Pte
Henry William Aldridge
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: 3 Mill Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 3 Mill Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: G/10827 |
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Enlistment place: Hounslow, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Middlesex Regiment, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Fitzclarence Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLIV Row: G Grave: 17 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Henry William Aldrigde was the son of William Henry and Alda Aldridge. He was born around 1897 in West Drayton and lived with his parents at 3 Mill Road, West Drayton, Middlesex until he enlisted in the British Army at Hounslow, Greater London. Henry served in the 1st Battalion The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment (98th Brigade, 33rd Division).
Henry died on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood. Preparations for this battle had been underway since 24 September. At around 1.30 pm on 24 September, the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment left the Railway Dugouts, south-west of Zillebeeke Lake. They advanced to the front line via Dormy House and Yeomanry Track. The sector to be captured lay between Polygon Wood in the north and the Reutelbeek in the south, with a front of 570 yards in the middle of a crater area. The next day, 25th September, at 5.30 am the Germans opened a very heavy barrage on the front, support and reserve lines and launched an attack. The regiment's defence was hampered by the fact that the troops had not seen the ground in daylight, having just arrived at their positions. At 6.30 am a new German attack was launched from the direction of Yerk House. The Germans eventually entered the British trench on the left and bombarded this section. This was combined with hand-to-hand fighting. After the attack arrangements were made between various companies to retake the original front line. Towards evening the Germans were seen advancing in order to reinforce their position, but the regiment opened fire on them.
On 26th September the third phase of the attack began. Normally the attack was to pass through the line of the Middlesex Regiment and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, after which the battalions were to consider themselves relieved. After this there was to have been a rendezvous at Clapham Junction. But as HQ received no news that the attack had been successful, orders to withdraw could not be given until the afternoon. By then it was clear that a new line had been established in front of them.
This battle caused many casualties. 72 soldiers were wounded, 131 were missing and 37 were killed. Among the latter was 20-year-old Henry. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot XLIV, row G, grave 17). Henry also received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal after his death.
Henry died on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood. Preparations for this battle had been underway since 24 September. At around 1.30 pm on 24 September, the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment left the Railway Dugouts, south-west of Zillebeeke Lake. They advanced to the front line via Dormy House and Yeomanry Track. The sector to be captured lay between Polygon Wood in the north and the Reutelbeek in the south, with a front of 570 yards in the middle of a crater area. The next day, 25th September, at 5.30 am the Germans opened a very heavy barrage on the front, support and reserve lines and launched an attack. The regiment's defence was hampered by the fact that the troops had not seen the ground in daylight, having just arrived at their positions. At 6.30 am a new German attack was launched from the direction of Yerk House. The Germans eventually entered the British trench on the left and bombarded this section. This was combined with hand-to-hand fighting. After the attack arrangements were made between various companies to retake the original front line. Towards evening the Germans were seen advancing in order to reinforce their position, but the regiment opened fire on them.
On 26th September the third phase of the attack began. Normally the attack was to pass through the line of the Middlesex Regiment and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, after which the battalions were to consider themselves relieved. After this there was to have been a rendezvous at Clapham Junction. But as HQ received no news that the attack had been successful, orders to withdraw could not be given until the afternoon. By then it was clear that a new line had been established in front of them.
This battle caused many casualties. 72 soldiers were wounded, 131 were missing and 37 were killed. Among the latter was 20-year-old Henry. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot XLIV, row G, grave 17). Henry also received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal after his death.
Sources 4
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1 Battalion Middlesex Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2426/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 92-94. Sources used |
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Soldier's Effects records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461720 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=30b9e008-6610-43fe-86d3-79dc589d89bf |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/8742 |