Ernest Herbert Dale

A Private with 1st Bn., Ernest died on 8th of May 1915 at the age of 27. 

Ernest was born at Lowestoft on 7 June 1888, a son of Frederick and Charlotte Elizabeth Dale. In 1891 his family lived at 60 West Bevan Street, Lowestoft. From 11 October 1897 Ernest attended Saint John's School, Lowestoft, and his family lived at 14 Stanford Street. By 1901 they were living at 73 Wollaston Road. In 1911 his family lived at 61 Norwich Road and, later, at 34 Windsor Road Lowestoft.

Ernest volunteered and joined the Army at Lowestoft. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment. He arrived in France on 14 April 1915 to join the 1st Battalion. 

Before dawn on 8 May, the men of the 1st Battalion were warned of an imminent attack, and added that the CO expected the Battalion to yield no ground, and to stand to the last. The German assault began at 10 am with a ferocious artillery attack: poison gas was also used against the British troops. All communication lines were cut, and the only routes for reinforcements were through Ypres which was in flames.

In the 1st Battalion the Commanding Officer, Battalion Adjutant, and Regimental Sergeant Major all became casualties, and the battalion headquarters was destroyed. The Battalion held their ground, but, by noon, the Battalion had been completely overwhelmed. The total number of casualties on 8 May amounted to over 400. Only one officer and 29 men returned from the battle. The Battalion had sustained near 1,000 casualties in the six weeks since the start of the Battle of Ypres. 

Ernest was reported missing. A note on his Medal Index Card indicates that it had been thought that he had died 'on or since 16 August 1916. However, by July 1918, it was concluded that he was 'presumed killed' on 8 May 1915.