Military History

Ernest is listed as being killed in action during the attack on Judge Copse on the 9th October 1917. Details of that day are as follows.

The 2nd Battalion was part of the 22nd Brigade, of the 7th Division. The 7th Division participated in the Battle of Poelcapelle (9 October 1917), a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The Division attacked with the 22nd Brigade from positions east of Polygon Wood towards the village of Beselare. The Brigade’s attack was carried by the 2nd Honourable Artillery Company on the right and the 2nd Royal Warwickshires on the left; the 9th Devons were in reserve.

The task of the battalion was to capture Judge Copse, near the hamlet of Reutel, which had to be taken by the 2nd Hounourable Artillery Company. The assault commenced at 5.20. a.m. and elapsed in total chaos. Judge Copse was reportedly passed by 7 a.m. However it quickly became obvious that the Companies of the 2nd Royal Warwickshire had advanced in complete disorganization. Only isolated parties had reached their objectives. Several Companies had lost direction and most of the Battalion had taken up positions near the Reutel Cemetery without properly clearing Judge Copse. Consequently heavy machine-gun fire from Judgse Copse was causing heavy casualties in the 2nd Honourable Artillery Company. With Judge Copse still in German hands the left flank of the entire Brigade was up in the air and the men were in danger of being cut off.

During the afternoon the 9th Devons were sent into gap on the left. They had to clear Judge Copse. Fighting in the copse continued till nightfall and it was already dark when the 9th Devons finally cleared Judge Copse, thusly securing all the 7th Divison’s objectives. The Germans kept on shelling the captured positions during the rest of the night, but they didn’t counter attack and the positions were further consolidated on the next day.