We know little about Ernest but we know that he was the first to be arrested as a conscientious objector under the Military Service Act and his treatment by the Tribunal system became the object of Bertrand Russell's memorable leaflet "Two years Hard Labour for refusing to Disobey the Dictates of Conscience".

Arrested for failing to report at the Army Depot Ernest, a young school teacher, claimed exemption and objected to be conscripted on Socialist grounds when he appeared at the St Helens Tribunal at the end of March 1916. He made no secret of his republican politics; he was a member Union of Democratic Control, which at the time campaigned to raise awareness of the atrocities committed by Belgium in the Congo and was suspicious of the motives of the great powers in starting a war.

He was refused exemption, and promptly appealed to the Liverpool Appeal Tribunal where he was astonished to find that the chairman of the Appeal Tribunal had received a letter from the chairman of the Tribunal at St Helens:

This man belongs to a group who are coaching men of military age to object to service. He has no religious conviction, and would see his sisters ravished or the war lost rather than do anything to help. He I willing to take Government money. He considers himself first and only.

The chairman refuse Ernest to call witnesses on his behalf dismissed his appeal and handed him to the army. He described Ernest as 'selfish coward' and wrote to his employer, the St Helens Education Authority, suggesting he be dismisses.

Few days later at Kimnel Park he was court martialled for disobedience and given two years' hard labour.

Ernest's journey through the system was largely via Convict Prisons in Shrewsbury, Carnarvon, Hereford and Manchester. At the end of one of his sentences he was given the opportunity to take part in the Home Office Scheme in the Wakefield Work Centre and thus be released from prison. But it appears that he rejected the offer, possibly like many other COs he felt the Home Office scheme would compromise his resistance to supporting the war effort in any way. He went on to face another court martial and more hard labour in prison.

It has been suggested that he returned to teaching after the war as well as becoming a cabinet maker.

The No Conscription Fellowship published a leaflet in support/protest at the Tribunals treatment of Ernest Everett. The leaflet, originally published anonymously, as well as landing some of its distributors in front of the the magistrate also saw Bertrand Russell prosecuted at Mansion House following a letter to The Times in which he revealed himself as the author.