C A M E O O F T H E M O N T H
Each month I will put on the website the story of a soldier who died during the First World War.
They are selected at random.
Each month I will put on the website the story of a soldier who died during the First World War.
They are selected at random.
Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery
3/5073 Lance Corporal Ernest John Linge
2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Died on Friday 23rd April 1915, aged 17
Grave reference VII. F. 22.
Died on Friday 23rd April 1915, aged 17
Grave reference VII. F. 22.
Ernest was born at home, second son of Arthur and Susan Linge, of 43 Selborne Road, Wood Green, London. He was educated locally.
Ernest volunteered in London and was sent for training He was in camp at Winchester, Hampshire, during November 1914, leaving for Southampton on Saturday 19th December, arriving in Le Havre on Monday 21st. The Battalion had been based in Hong Kong at the outbreak of war and had been ordered to return, so the whole Battalion had to be re-equipped: “All units are now equipped as regards men except 50 D.C.L.I. There are no packs as yet except in case of D.C.L.I. There are still considerable shortages in articles of regimental gear, e.g. tools, signalling, harness. Blankets are very bad and consist mostly of lengths of cloth suitable for tweed suits!”
Upon arrival in France Ernest marched to the station and entrained for Arques, St Omer, then marched to Wardrecques where he was billeted in a factory. Ernest remained in the billets until Thursday 7th January 1915 whilst undertaking training for the front line. The Battalion Diary records for Monday 4th: “Hot baths arranged for the whole Battalion (factory engine heated the water which was run into a cistern holding twenty men at a time).”
Ernest marched in the rain along the muddy lanes to Méteren where he rested with his platoon before continuing to Westoutre the next day. They were billeted in a series of barns to the west of the town. He marched to Dickebusch on Tuesday 12th and, after a night in another set of barns, Ernest took the line at St Eloi from 4.30pm relieving the Gloucesters. Ernest continued on tours of duty at St Eloi and Dickebusch where he and his comrades rebuilt the trenches, draining them despite being under constant sniper and rifle grenade fire. The Battalion was sent to ‘Trenches 19, 20, 21’ and ‘22’ relieving the Leinsters on Thursday 11th February. The trenches ran from St Eloi to ‘Hollandscheschuur Farm’ and remained there until late on Saturday 13th when the Leinsters retook the line. At 4.10pm on Sunday 14th the Germans laid down a heavy artillery barrage and the Battalion was ordered to stand to. The Germans attacked and captured four trenches. Colonel Tuson led the Battalion to Voormezeele where the men left their packs then continued on to St Eloi, taking up position behind ‘Shelley’s Farm’ at 12.45am on Monday 15th. He issued the order: “The 2nd D.C.L.I. were to pass through the hedge just south of the farm-house, about 70 yards from the trenches, and form up in two lines, B and C Companies the firing line and A and D in support.” At 4.00am the counter-attack commenced, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps retook ‘Trenches 21’ and ‘22’, and the Cornwalls assisted retaking ‘19’ and ‘20’. General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien sent a message to the Battalion: “I have only just received the belated report of the most ably planned and gallantly carried-out successful counter-attack made on morning of fifteenth instant under Brigadier-General Longley’s orders, and should like you to convey my thanks and congratulations to General Longley and Colonel Tuson who actually commanded the attack, and all battalions who took part in it.”
Ernest was relieved from the line and marched to a camp in Dickebusch in the early hours of Wednesday 17th. He undertook fatigues until being sent to the familiar billets at Westoutre followed by a tour of duty from Wednesday 24th. Ernest paraded in the village and marched off at 3.15am on Friday 2nd April, arriving in Ypres at 8.30am. He rested in the market square during the day then marched in the snow through the Menin Gate to the ‘Demi Repos’ dugouts in ‘Sanctuary Wood’, via Potijze and Hooge. Two days later he moved into the front line where he served on tours of duty until Tuesday 20th when Ernest marched along the Menin Road to Ypres. The shelling of the town had begun in the build up to the Second Battle of Ypres. A shell fell on one of the billets that killed six men and wounded thirteen, so the Battalion was moved out of the town and into bivouac. During the afternoon of Thursday 22nd Ernest marched back into the town where he was able to enjoy a hot bath. At 5.00pm the gas attack was launched by the Germans against the French Colonial Troops. The Battalion Diary recorded: “French stragglers from the north started coming in, saying the Zouaves had been attacked with asphyxiating gas and that there had been a general French retirement in consequence on a wide front in the direction of Pilkem and Langemarck.” The Battalion was ordered to stand to and await orders that came at 2.30am on Friday 23rd. Ernest marched out to Potijze Château where he arrived three hours later. The Colonel Tuson went into the Château to discuss the situation where he was ordered to take the men to the St Jan to Wieltje crossroads and dig in around Wieltje Farm. In the afternoon Ernest was led forward to attack the enemy lines and was greeted by withering fire that cut him down.
He has no personal gravestone inscription.
Ernest volunteered in London and was sent for training He was in camp at Winchester, Hampshire, during November 1914, leaving for Southampton on Saturday 19th December, arriving in Le Havre on Monday 21st. The Battalion had been based in Hong Kong at the outbreak of war and had been ordered to return, so the whole Battalion had to be re-equipped: “All units are now equipped as regards men except 50 D.C.L.I. There are no packs as yet except in case of D.C.L.I. There are still considerable shortages in articles of regimental gear, e.g. tools, signalling, harness. Blankets are very bad and consist mostly of lengths of cloth suitable for tweed suits!”
Upon arrival in France Ernest marched to the station and entrained for Arques, St Omer, then marched to Wardrecques where he was billeted in a factory. Ernest remained in the billets until Thursday 7th January 1915 whilst undertaking training for the front line. The Battalion Diary records for Monday 4th: “Hot baths arranged for the whole Battalion (factory engine heated the water which was run into a cistern holding twenty men at a time).”
Ernest marched in the rain along the muddy lanes to Méteren where he rested with his platoon before continuing to Westoutre the next day. They were billeted in a series of barns to the west of the town. He marched to Dickebusch on Tuesday 12th and, after a night in another set of barns, Ernest took the line at St Eloi from 4.30pm relieving the Gloucesters. Ernest continued on tours of duty at St Eloi and Dickebusch where he and his comrades rebuilt the trenches, draining them despite being under constant sniper and rifle grenade fire. The Battalion was sent to ‘Trenches 19, 20, 21’ and ‘22’ relieving the Leinsters on Thursday 11th February. The trenches ran from St Eloi to ‘Hollandscheschuur Farm’ and remained there until late on Saturday 13th when the Leinsters retook the line. At 4.10pm on Sunday 14th the Germans laid down a heavy artillery barrage and the Battalion was ordered to stand to. The Germans attacked and captured four trenches. Colonel Tuson led the Battalion to Voormezeele where the men left their packs then continued on to St Eloi, taking up position behind ‘Shelley’s Farm’ at 12.45am on Monday 15th. He issued the order: “The 2nd D.C.L.I. were to pass through the hedge just south of the farm-house, about 70 yards from the trenches, and form up in two lines, B and C Companies the firing line and A and D in support.” At 4.00am the counter-attack commenced, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps retook ‘Trenches 21’ and ‘22’, and the Cornwalls assisted retaking ‘19’ and ‘20’. General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien sent a message to the Battalion: “I have only just received the belated report of the most ably planned and gallantly carried-out successful counter-attack made on morning of fifteenth instant under Brigadier-General Longley’s orders, and should like you to convey my thanks and congratulations to General Longley and Colonel Tuson who actually commanded the attack, and all battalions who took part in it.”
Ernest was relieved from the line and marched to a camp in Dickebusch in the early hours of Wednesday 17th. He undertook fatigues until being sent to the familiar billets at Westoutre followed by a tour of duty from Wednesday 24th. Ernest paraded in the village and marched off at 3.15am on Friday 2nd April, arriving in Ypres at 8.30am. He rested in the market square during the day then marched in the snow through the Menin Gate to the ‘Demi Repos’ dugouts in ‘Sanctuary Wood’, via Potijze and Hooge. Two days later he moved into the front line where he served on tours of duty until Tuesday 20th when Ernest marched along the Menin Road to Ypres. The shelling of the town had begun in the build up to the Second Battle of Ypres. A shell fell on one of the billets that killed six men and wounded thirteen, so the Battalion was moved out of the town and into bivouac. During the afternoon of Thursday 22nd Ernest marched back into the town where he was able to enjoy a hot bath. At 5.00pm the gas attack was launched by the Germans against the French Colonial Troops. The Battalion Diary recorded: “French stragglers from the north started coming in, saying the Zouaves had been attacked with asphyxiating gas and that there had been a general French retirement in consequence on a wide front in the direction of Pilkem and Langemarck.” The Battalion was ordered to stand to and await orders that came at 2.30am on Friday 23rd. Ernest marched out to Potijze Château where he arrived three hours later. The Colonel Tuson went into the Château to discuss the situation where he was ordered to take the men to the St Jan to Wieltje crossroads and dig in around Wieltje Farm. In the afternoon Ernest was led forward to attack the enemy lines and was greeted by withering fire that cut him down.
He has no personal gravestone inscription.