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 about 1897 in West Drayton and lived with his parents at 3 Mill Road, West Drayton, Middlesex until he enlisted in the British Army in Hounslow, Greater London. Henry served in 1st Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment (98th Brigade, 33rd Division).
Henry William Aldridge died on 26 September 1917, the first day of the Battle of Polygon Wood. This was the 5th major battle of the British Army in the Battle of Passchendaele. It was also an important battle for the Australian forces. Throughout the war, Polygon Wood had been fought over because it was an important landmark on the battlefields of the Ypres Salient. The seven Allied divisions attacked the German lines, which ran south from the village of Zonnebeke to Polygon Wood. The battle is seen as a victory for the British army. Yet a major factor in the success of this battle was the clear weather. The battle eventually lasted until 3 October 1917.
Preparations had been made for this battle since 24 September. Around 1.30pm on 24 September, the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment left their starting positions, which were located between Northampton Farm and Black Watch Corner. They headed for the front line via Dormy House and Yeomanry Track. The sector to be taken was between Polygon Wood in the north to Reutel Brook in the south, with a front of 570 yards in the middle of a cratered area. The following day, 25 September, at 5.30 am, the Germans opened a very violent 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 yet seen the ground at daylight as they had just arrived at their positions. At 6.30 am, another German attack was launched from the direction of Yerk House. The Germans eventually moved into the British trench on the left and bombed this stretch. This was combined with man-to-man fighting. After the attack, arrangements were made between different companies to recapture the original front line. Towards evening, the Germans were seen advancing as they wanted to reinforce their position, but the regiment opened fire on them.
On 26 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, a rendezvous would have taken place at Clapham Junction. But as headquarters did not receive a report that the attack had succeeded, 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 brought many casualties. 72 soldiers were wounded, 131 soldiers were missing and 37 soldiers died. The latter included 20-year-old Henry. His body was found near Fitzclarence Farm. This farm was located east of Clapham Junction. He was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XLIV, Row G, Grave 17).
Henry William Aldridge died on 26 September 1917, the first day of the Battle of Polygon Wood. This was the 5th major battle of the British Army in the Battle of Passchendaele. It was also an important battle for the Australian forces. Throughout the war, Polygon Wood had been fought over because it was an important landmark on the battlefields of the Ypres Salient. The seven Allied divisions attacked the German lines, which ran south from the village of Zonnebeke to Polygon Wood. The battle is seen as a victory for the British army. Yet a major factor in the success of this battle was the clear weather. The battle eventually lasted until 3 October 1917.
Preparations had been made for this battle since 24 September. Around 1.30pm on 24 September, the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment left their starting positions, which were located between Northampton Farm and Black Watch Corner. They headed for the front line via Dormy House and Yeomanry Track. The sector to be taken was between Polygon Wood in the north to Reutel Brook in the south, with a front of 570 yards in the middle of a cratered area. The following day, 25 September, at 5.30 am, the Germans opened a very violent 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 yet seen the ground at daylight as they had just arrived at their positions. At 6.30 am, another German attack was launched from the direction of Yerk House. The Germans eventually moved into the British trench on the left and bombed this stretch. This was combined with man-to-man fighting. After the attack, arrangements were made between different companies to recapture the original front line. Towards evening, the Germans were seen advancing as they wanted to reinforce their position, but the regiment opened fire on them.
On 26 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, a rendezvous would have taken place at Clapham Junction. But as headquarters did not receive a report that the attack had succeeded, 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 brought many casualties. 72 soldiers were wounded, 131 soldiers were missing and 37 soldiers died. The latter included 20-year-old Henry. His body was found near Fitzclarence Farm. This farm was located east of Clapham Junction. He was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XLIV, Row G, Grave 17).
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 |