Reader Neil Timberlake has been in touch to tell us about the journey he has made, both figuratively and in reality, to commemorate the memory of his great-great uncle Ernest Albert Timberlake who died in the Great War on 5 April, 1918.

Neil writes: “I always enjoy reading your pages in the Bucks Free Press about the local impact of the First World War, 100 years ago.

“I now have my own contribution to make.
About four years ago I signed up to the Royal British Legion’s initiative called “Every Man Remembered”, designed to ensure that every British and Allied soldier who died in the First World War would be commemorated.

“I was ‘allocated’ a soldier called Ernest Albert Timberlake, who had died on 5 April 1918, aged just 30 years, and who was buried in Doullens cemetery in France, which is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

“I did a little research about Ernest Albert Timberlake, and discovered that he had been a soldier in the 9th Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was mortally injured by a gunshot wound to the head on April 3, 1918 and died of his wounds two days later.

[Ernest Albert was the son of John and Annie Timberlake of High Wycombe, who had a total of nine children, four girls and five boys. The boys served in the Great War, Ernest being the only one to lay down his life. He had married Alice Maud Crutchfield in the summer of 1909 and the couple had three children, George, Gladys and Frank. Initially the family lived at No. 48 Oakridge Rd before moving to No. 75.]

“At the time of his death, Ernest Albert therefore left behind three young children, aged 8, 7 and 2. As I began to consider how to honour my pledge to the Royal British Legion, the idea took shape that the best way to do so would be to take a trip to Doullens and to place flowers on his grave on the exact 100th anniversary of his death. This, then, became The Plan.

“I told members of my family of what I was proposing to do, and invited anybody who was interested to join me on the pilgrimage. We wanted to start the journey at the same place that Ernest had left from in January 1918 – the last time he had been at home, on leave. 

“We duly set off by car from 75 Oakridge Rd the day before the anniversary, having collected a floral tribute which had been ordered from Daisy’s Flowers in Prestwood. The wreath of laurel leaves included the regimental coat of arms of the Royal Army Medical Corps, along with red and white flowers, and a personal tribute from the family.

“We found the cemetery at Doullens to be well-kept, with some ostentatious memorials in that part dedicated to local people. There are two separate ‘extensions’ which are set aside for the war dead. 

“We very easily found Ernest’s grave in Extension No. 1, buried alongside a number of other soldiers who had died on the same day.

“Although we knew where to look, the first sight of the grave creates a sudden emotional impulse. Ernest’s grave is beautifully stark and simple, as are all the graves of the fallen in war cemeteries throughout northern France and Belgium.

“Viewing Ernest’s headstone, I wondered how many other members of the family had ever made it out to Doullens to pay their respects to him.

“I wondered particularly if Alice had ever managed to visit her late husband’s grave.

“At the bottom of the headstone is carved a message from his family: 'Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away. From his loving wife and children'.

“To this we added our own message attached to the wreath: 'In commemoration of our great great uncle Ernest Albert Timberlake on the centenary of his death. A brave soldier, serving as a medic, who answered the call of his

“After some 45 minutes at the cemetery we made our way home to south Buckinghamshire. I could not complete my journey home without once again passing the house where Ernest lived in Oakridge Road; “Here we are Ernest”, I found myself saying, “Home at last”.”

Neil would be pleased to hear from any descendants of John and Annie Timberlake, and particularly those of the three children of Ernest Albert and Alice Maud.

In the first instance please contact Mike Dewey on 01494 755070 or email deweymiked@aol.com.