PAGE, Ernest

Ernest Page was born in Brierley Hill, lived in Cradley and enlisted in the Worcesters before 1914. He was in the 2nd Battalion stationed at Aldershot as part of the British Expeditionary Force and by the 12th August they had landed in France. They reached Mons by the 23rd but were faced with overwhelming enemy forces. They made the long 150 mile retreat from Mons to the Marne but then helped to achieve the decisive battle which halted the German plan for a quick victory. However, in October another strong German force attacked in Belgium with Ypres and the Channel as its targets. The BEF moved hurriedly to defend Ypres and arrived on the 15th. On the 21st they met the German forces at Langemarck in a hard fought battle but the Germans were only briefly halted. Among those killed in action on this day was Private Ernest Page who is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Brierley Hill, Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.