Ernest Jessop - Lest We Forget

Ernest George Jessop was born January 7, 1894 at Essex, England. He was the son of George & Emily Jessop who came to Canada with their two sons in 1911, settling first in Alberta, then establishing a ranch in Solsqua, west of Malakwa, in 1914.  

Ernest Jessop signed his enlistment papers August 19, 1915 at Vernon. His regimenal number was 443671. He was 21 years old, single, 5’ 8” tall with brown hair and blue eyes. He worked as a surveyor. His religious affiliation was Congregationalist. He sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 22, 1915, on the H.M.T. Saxonia, arriving in Plymouth on December 1, 1915.

Ernest Jessop died on September 3, 1916 during the battle of the Somme. He was 22 years old. At the time of his death he was a Private serving with the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario) Regiment. He is buried at the 2nd Canadian Cemetery, Somme, France.

Ernest had a brother, Herbert William Jessop, who also joined up to serve overseas. Herbert returned from the war, and was married in 1919, but he died in Revelstoke in 1921 as the result of being gassed at Hill 70. He was survived by his wife and young son. Herbert was given a military funeral.

The name of Ernest Jessop is inscribed on the Courthouse plaque but not the Cenotaph plaque. Malakwa decided that it would erect its own memorial to its fallen and the name of Ernest Jessop is inscribed on the Cenotaph at Malakwa.

Cenotaph at Malakwa, B.C., circa 1930s