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 were forced into 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 as the target. The BEF moved hurriedly to its defence and arrived on the 15th and on the 21st they met the German forces at Langemarck. It was a hard fought battle but the Germans were only briefly halted. Among those killed in action on this day was Private Ernest Page. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial and also on the Brierley Hill, Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.