Second Lieutenant Ernest Harley Savory

Ernest Hartley Savory was born at 10 Orsett Terrace, Paddington on the 21st of May 1897 the second son of Ernest Jeffrey Charles Savory, a solicitor, and Madeline (nee May) Savory later of The Red Lodge, Brooklyn Road, Woking in Surrey. He was christened at St John’s Church, Paddington on the 4th of July 1897.

He was educated at St Mary’s Hill School, Horsell from 1905 to 1911 and at Lancing College where he was in News House from May 1911 and in Fields House from September 1912 until July 1916. He was a member of the Football XI and the Cricket XI for two years and was Secretary of Football in 1914/15. He was appointed as a House Captain in September 1914, as a Prefect and as Head of House in 1915. He was Company Sergeant Major of A Company in the Officer Training Corps and was 2nd Captain of School.

While still at school he applied for entry to the Royal Military College Sandhurst on the 25th of June 1916 in an application which was supported by the Reverend Bowlby, Headmaster of Lancing College who remarked:- “Superior ability and is a leader. Has many relations in Army and Navy.” He underwent a medical examination in London on the 29th of June 1916 at which it was recorded that he was five feet seven inches tall and that he weighed 123lbs. A note was added to the report which listed him as unfit due to his chest but added:- “But will probably develop.”

On leaving the College he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment on the 1st of May 1917. He landed in France in May 1917 and joined his battalion in the field at Bayencourt along with a draft of two other officers and eighty seven men on the 20th of June 1917. He was posted to C Company two days later.

At 4.35am on the morning of the 10th of August 1917 the 7th Battalion Queen’s Regiment launched an assault on the German positions at Inverness Copse in the Ypres salient. A Company, on the right of the attack and D Company on the left were to lead the assault with two platoons of B Company detailed to “mop up” . The remainder of B Company, along with C Company, were ordered to attack and reduce enemy strong points in the wood. Despite a satisfactory artillery barrage the men were hampered by fallen trees and tangled undergrowth up to four feet high in places. The men were cut down by the rifles and machine guns of the German defenders who were there in greater numbers than expected.

During the attack Ernest Savory, commanding No.2 Platoon of C Company and 2nd Lieutenant Raymond Ernest Wilson leading No.3 Platoon were seen to advance on the left of the attack and succeed in entering Inverness Copse with a handful of men. Neither officer was seen again. The battalion was forced to retire at dusk having suffered casualties of ten of the twelve officers who went into the attack with two hundred and seventy two other ranks killed wounded or missing. Ernest Savory was one of four officers who were listed as missing following the attack. The battalion was relieved by the 10th Battalion Essex Regiment at 8pm that night.

His father received the following telegram dated the 25th of August 1917: –

“Regret to inform you Second Lieut. E.H. Savory 7 Royal West Surrey Regt. is reported missing August ten. This does not necessarily mean that he is either killed on wounded. Any further news sent if received.”

A later statement by Lance Corporal Hafferty of his platoon stated that he had been killed instantaneously during the attack. He was officially declared to have been killed in the attack on the 2nd of May 1918.

His elder brother, Captain Maurice Jeffrey Savory 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, was killed in action on the 3rd of February 1917.

There is a memorial to Ernest in the Chapel at Sandhurst. The following is inscribed on one of the choir stalls:

“Ernest Harley Savory 2nd Lieut The Queen’s Regiment. Killed, aged 20, on Menin Road, Ypres, 10 August 1917. Greater love hath non man than this.”

Ernest is listed on Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 11.

Imperial War Museum