L/Cpl
Alfred Ridge
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 09/06/1887 |
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Place of birth: Hulme, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Professional Soldier |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 1095 |
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Enlistment date: 25/03/1906 |
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Enlistment place: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Manchester Regiment, 18th Bn. (Last known unit) — Manchester Regiment, 11th Bn. — Manchester Regiment, 12th Bn. |
Information about death
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Date of death: 21/01/1918 |
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Place of death: Feldlazarett, Wevelgem, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 30 |
Cemetery
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Harlebeke New British Cemetery Plot: XIV Row: C Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal — 06/08/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 06/08/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Alfred Ridge was a soldier, carter and beer seller from Hulme, Manchester. He joined the 6th Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment on the 25th of March 1906 and served in India from 1911 till 1914 as a member of the 1st Battalion. When the War broke out, Lance Corporal Ridge and his battalion were transferred to France. During the Great War, Alfred served in the 1st, 11th, 12th and eventually 18th Battalion Manchester Regiment, 90th Brigade, 30th Division. From mid-1917, his battalion was stationed near Ypres.
In June 1917, Lance Corporal Ridge received a head injury near Sanctuary Wood, east of Ypres. He was brought to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, where he was treated. Later, he was transferred to No. 18 General Hospital U.S. Base 12. This head injury did not mean the end of his military career.
He rejoined the 18th battalion and was stationed in the Polderhoek Sector. On the 11th of December, the 18th Manchester Regiment relieved the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment in the left front line sector. The ‘A’ company, of which Lance Corporal Ridge was a part, was stationed at the right. The 12th and 13th passed rather quietly. On the 14th of December, however, an attack was launched at 6 a.m. by the German troops. They overwhelmed the right side of the battalion front with mortar bombardment and severe shelling and managed to occupy the original front line.
Lance Corporal Alfred Ridge was wounded in the femur by a grenade during this attack and was taken prisoner. He was sent to a Feldlazarett in Wevelgem. However, on the 21st of January 1918, at the age of 30, he died of his wounds. He was buried at Menin Wald (Ram Wood German Military Cemetery). After the war, he was reburied at Harlebeke New British Cemetery, plot 14, row C, grave 3; where he is still remembered today.
In June 1917, Lance Corporal Ridge received a head injury near Sanctuary Wood, east of Ypres. He was brought to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, where he was treated. Later, he was transferred to No. 18 General Hospital U.S. Base 12. This head injury did not mean the end of his military career.
He rejoined the 18th battalion and was stationed in the Polderhoek Sector. On the 11th of December, the 18th Manchester Regiment relieved the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment in the left front line sector. The ‘A’ company, of which Lance Corporal Ridge was a part, was stationed at the right. The 12th and 13th passed rather quietly. On the 14th of December, however, an attack was launched at 6 a.m. by the German troops. They overwhelmed the right side of the battalion front with mortar bombardment and severe shelling and managed to occupy the original front line.
Lance Corporal Alfred Ridge was wounded in the femur by a grenade during this attack and was taken prisoner. He was sent to a Feldlazarett in Wevelgem. However, on the 21st of January 1918, at the age of 30, he died of his wounds. He was buried at Menin Wald (Ram Wood German Military Cemetery). After the war, he was reburied at Harlebeke New British Cemetery, plot 14, row C, grave 3; where he is still remembered today.
Sources 6
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17thmanchesters.wordpress https://17thmanchesters.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/alfred-ridge-manchester-regiment-cousin-died-191718/ Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/?_ga=2.85168281.1637137675.1617087120-1021452.1612878367 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/486422/A%20RIDGE/ Sources used |
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Naval and Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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Prisoners of the First World War, the ICRC archives (International Committee of the Red Cross archives, Geneva (ICRC), ACICR, C G1). https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/ Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/manchester-regiment/ Sources used |