Ernest Page
Name: Ernest James Lindsay Page
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service Number: 417
Units Served: 27th Battalion
Personal details: Ernest James Lindsay Page, also known as Barney to all his mates and family, was born 13th of August 1895, Parents Lindsay Milam Page and Kathleen Anne Page, South Australia. Ernest had a brother who served in the war as well but returned back to Australia.
Ernest was a French Polisher before he joined the army and was living at Eastwood at the time. His family lived at 26 Queen St. Kensington and later moved to 11 James St. Stepney. Ernest belonged to a big family. He was the eldest of 7 children (5 boys first followed by 2 girls) Ernest’s mother died when he was 12 and then became a step brother to 5 other brothers and 4 other sisters after his father remarried in 1911. He was aged 19 years and 6 months old when he joined the A.I.F.
Ernest was 5ft 2 and ¾ inches tall (160cms) with brown hair and a fair complexion.
Enlistment details: Ernest enlisted on the 26th of January, 1915 in South Australia, and was assigned to the 27th battalion A.I.F.
Details about his role in war: Ernest served in the Militia Reserves G. Company 79th Infantry before joining the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 26th of January, 1915 in the 27th Battalion.
Ernest served some time at Gallipoli peninsula from Sept. 1915 until the evacuation in December 1915. He was appointed a Lance Corporal on the 17th of November, 1915 during his time on the Gallipoli peninsula.
His brother Leslie Roy “Bull” Page joined him in the 27th Battalion during the early part of 1916 having transferred from the 32nd Battalion. They fought alongside each other at Pozieres. They shook hands at “Chalk Pit” before going “over the top” at the Battle for Pozieres Ridge and that was the last time Leslie saw his brother Barney.
Ernest was reported ‘missing’ which was later changed to ‘killed in action’ at Pozieres on 4th of August, 1916 just 9 days before his 21st birthday on 13th of August. He was buried on the Pozieres battlefield but his grave was subsequently lost and never reclaimed.
Age at death: Aged 20 years and 11 months old
Cemetery or Memorial Details: Australian National Memorial Villers Bretonneux
