PAGE, James

James Page was born in Brierley Hill and was the son of Samuel and Mary Page of 18 Parkes Road. He joined the South Staffords and served in the 2nd Battalion in the 2nd Division, which had been in the serious fighting at the Somme in 1916 and in Artois at Vimy in 1917. They were in reserve when the first German Spring offensive struck on the 21st March 1918. On the 23rd they attempted to hold the line near Bapaume but were forced into retreat with great losses. After reorganisation they returned for the Advance to Victory and moved to the front line south west of Arras for the opening Battle of Albert on the 21st August. Without an early bombardment they advanced at 11 a.m. to take the village of Ervillers and were immediately successful. However, they were pinned down on the edge of the village by heavy enemy machine gun fire and serious losses were taken. Among them was Private James Page who was killed in action. He was 20 years of age and is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, (VI C 16). For the next three months the road to victory was unbroken and peace achieved. He is commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials. His brother, Arthur, served in the same regiment and was killed in 1917.