Great-uncle’s grave was for us a moving reminder of his sacrifice
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, we will be telling the stories of the ordinary people who made an extraordinary sacrifice for our country. Heather Bletchly, 55, from Bloxham, Oxon, pays tribute to her great-uncle, who signed up at just 17.
Ernest Smallpage, my great-uncle, was born in Hadfield, Derbys, in November 1896 and grew up in Levenshulme, South Manchester. Ernest was only 17 when the war started and he enlisted with the Manchester Regiment on November 5, 1914.
His war record was among those destroyed by a German bomb in the Second World War. We do know that he transferred to the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division Machine Gun Corps later in the war. Ernest’s brother Reuben also enlisted and survived and thanks to that I’m here. But he’d never talk of his experiences. Ernest must have seen unimaginable horrors too. In September 1918, the 42nd Machine Gun Corps were heavily involved in the Battle of the Canal Du Nord on the Western Front in northern France.
They were fighting in a wooded area around Trescault, and Ernest was part of that offensive.
The battle led to the Allies capturing the Canal Du Nord, greatly contributing to the advances that led to the Armistice.
Ernest was killed in action in that battle on September 27. He had a makeshift burial but was given a proper resting place in the Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery at Villers-Plouich. My husband Mark and I recently visited his grave, where he lies with 1,266 comrades. The graveyard is kept in perfect condition by a dedicated farmer, who before entering took off his beret in respect. It was deeply moving. That visit filled us with such pride – we are determined never to forget their sacrifice.