Corby Council to commemorate First World War Cottingham soldier

Ernest Crane of the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed on the Western Front on March 4, 1917.

Ernest was born in Liverpool in 1897, his father was from Cottingham and by 1911 the family moved to Rockingham Road, Cottingham, following the death of Ernest’s mother.

Ernest Crane’s service record has not survived but we know that he served as a Private (27546) in the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.

When war broke out the 2nd Battalion was stationed in Egypt. It returned to England in October 1914, joining the 8th Division.

On November 5, 1914, it landed in France at Havre and joined the 24th Brigade of the 23rd Division.

The battalion saw duty on the Western Front. On July 15, 1916, the brigade was transferred back to the 8th Division.

According to the War Diary of the 2nd Battalion, on March 3, 1917, the Battalion relieved the 2/West Yorks in the Bouchavesnes North Section during the night of March 2.

On March 4 the Battalion attacked the enemy trench system on the Moislains Ridge. All objectives given to the Battalion were taken and held against repeated counter attacks.

Casualties in this engagement were seven officers and 235 other ranks.

Private Ernest Crane was killed in action March 4, 1917. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and Cottingham/Middleton War Memorial.

Further information on this soldier will be presented on the Cube Helpdesk, shared through Twitter, @CorbyBC, and can be found on Corby Council’s website as part of the First World War commemorations.