Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Savage (Savige), a general dealer, born on the 29th December 1841 in Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire (son of Samuel Savage, 1808-1894 and Hannah Smith, 1808-1872) and his wife Eliza Savige (nee Bramley, married on the 1st February 1864 in All Saint’s Church, Leicester), born in the January quarter of 1844 in Leicester and baptised on the 7th April 1844 in All Saint’s Church, Leicester (daughter of George Bramley, 1796 and Eleanor (Ellen) Chester, 1806). Ernest was born in the October quarter of 1878 in Leicester, his siblings were, Eliza Ann, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1866, Annie, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1869, Thelestine Jane, a schoolgirl, born on the 21st October 1871, Walter Samuel, a schoolboy, born on the 19th October 1873, Frederick, a schoolboy, born in the July quarter of 1875 and Samuel, a schoolboy, born on the 5th September 1876, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1881 the family home was at 81, Humberstone Gate, St. Margaret’s, Leicester.
In April 1891 Ernest was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 81, Humberstone Gate, St. George’s, Leicester, together with his father a hardware general dealer, his mother and siblings, Annie, assisting in the family business, Thelestine, a school teacher, Walter, a solicitor’s clerk, Frederick, assisting in the family business, Samuel, a schoolboy and Tom Sydney, a schoolboy, born in the October quarter of 1884 in Leicester.
Ernest’s father died at Humberstone Gate, Leicester, age 51 years on the 3rd January 1893 and was interred on the 6th January in Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester.
In March 1901Ernest was employed assisting in the family business and was residing at 27, Burton Street, St. George’s, Leicester, together with his widowed mother, a general dealer and his siblings, Walter, a solicitor’s clerk, Samuel, assisting in the family business and Tom, a carpenter’s apprentice.
Ernest’s mother died at 27, Burton Street, Leicester, aged 64 years on the 23rd January 1909 and was interred on the 27th January in Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester
FAMILY NOTES: Ernest was officially registered at birth with the surname spelling of Savage, however together with other members of his family, this spelling and the alternative of Savige was used extensively in numerous documents available in the public domain.
Ernest enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 11th March 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria, being assigned to the 6th Bn. Reinforcements, and was allotted the service number 2254. He gave his place of birth as Leicester, Leicestershire. His age as 36 years 5 months, his trade or calling as draper and marital status as unmarried.
He gave his next of kin as his sister, Annie Savige, 27, Burton Street, Leicester.
His Description on Enlistment records: Age 36 years 5 months, height 5-feet 5 inches, weight 10 stone 0 pounds, chest measurement 35½ - 37½ inches, complexion dark, eyes brown, hair black and grey and Religious Denomination Church of England. Distinctive marks scar both shins.
He was considered fit for active service on the 3rd March 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. To Depot. Pte. 11/3/15 – 20/4/15.
Posted to 6th Reinforcements, 6th Bn. Pte. 21/4/15.
Embarked. From Melbourne per H.M.A.T. A62 Wandilla. 17/6/15.
Joined 6th Bn. Australian Infantry from Brigade. Anzac. 6/8/15.
Posted to “D” Company. 6/8/15.
Embarked. Per H.M.T. Empress of Britain.
Disembarked. At Alexandria. 7/1/16.
Found dead in tent at Reveille on morning of. 21/1/16.
Died of disease, asphyxia. Tel-El-Kebir. 21/1/16.
Buried. At Tel-El-Kebir Cemetery, Egypt about 50 miles North East of Cairo. 21/1/16.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medal.
On Saturday February 5th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 6, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – DEATHS. – SAVIGE. – On the 21st January 1916 in hospital at Cairo, Egypt. Ernest Savige, Private in the 6th Battalion Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force (formerly of E. Savige and Sons, of Leicester), aged 37 years. “He answered his country’s call.”
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