Tributes were paid to a Walthamstow hero of the Battle of the Somme during a national commemoration event.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) held the closing ceremony of its Living Memory Project at Brookfield Cemetery on Friday (November 18).

The project aimed to commemorate those who fought in the battle 100 years ago, but are buried in war graves across the United Kingdom.

During the ceremony, Dr Glyn Prysor, the CWGC’s official historian, paid tribute to Private Ernest Nottage, saying the 20-year-old’s story was the most moving he had read during the project.

Private Nottage was born in 1898 in Walthamstow and attended Blackhorse Road Infants and Boys’ Schools, now Willowfield Humanities College, before leaving at 14. 

He was training as an electrical engineer when he enlisted, under-age, in September, 1914. Serving in the Royal Fusiliers, 2/4 Battalion, he was wounded at Gallipoli.

He was then sent to join the 1st/4th Battalion in France and was part of the Allied attack on Gommecourt during the Battle of the Somme on July 1. 

He was brought back to England having been suffered serious injuries to his eye, nose and chest, and spent eight months in hospital before being discharged. 

He died of his wounds on January 6, 1918 and is buried in Queen’s Road Cemetery.

Author Malcolm Doolin, one of the organisers of the Walthamstow Living Memory Project, said: “Dr Prysor said he had read a number of stories from projects countrywide.

“But he said Ernest Nottage’s story was the one that moved him the most. He read out the details of the injuries he suffered and people were gasping.

“We are really pleased to have done our part and got Walthamstow involved in this project.

“We want to ensure people remember these young men so they do not just become names on a war memorial.”

More than 260 groups across the UK, including schools, sports teams and church groups, signed up to contribute to the Living Memory Project. 

Volunteers were encouraged to research and commemorate those who died at the Somme but were buried in their local area.

A memorial event was staged on November 15 at Queen’s Road Cemetery to remember Private Nottage.