Ernest's memory honoured

It has been almost 90 years since South Staffordshire soldier Private Ernest Mullard died fighting for his country in the First World War.

But a military enthusiast from his home village near Wolverhampton is making sure his memory is kept alive.

Every year in September Phil Palmer, from Essington, makes a special trip to France with one of his restored wartime vehicles to lay a cross in honour of the fallen soldier.

As chairman of the Birmingham and West Midlands branch of the Military Vehicles Trust, the 63-year-old takes part in an annual parade from Calais to Bethune as part of a liberation tour.

And after discovering a soldier from the South Staffordshire village was buried near to the route of the parade, he was keen to honour his bravery.

The father-of-one, who first became interested in the military after rescuing and restoring a 1944 Leyland Hippo truck which had been destined for scrap, said today: "I was speaking to a historian from the village who knew I travelled to France as part of the tour, during which we parade the vehicles along with military bands through the liberated villages.

"He told me there were a number of soldiers from Essington who had died in both wars who were buried in France and their names are on a plaque in St John's Church in the village.

"He got me a list of the names and we found that one, Private Ernest Mullard, was buried in Cabaret Rouge cemetery in Souchez.

"We went and searched for the grave and now every year I take over a British Legion cross and lay it there."

Little is known about Private Mullard, although it is believed he was a tunneller in the war who died just months before the conflict ended in 1918.

"He has got descendants but they know very little about him and it would be great to know more," said Mr Palmer.

"This year around a dozen of the group visited his grave and we had a minute's silence for him. It was a very poignant moment."