No. 9792, Private, Percy BRIDGEMAN
Aged 30
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Percy Donald Bridgeman was born in 1884 in Burwell (Newmarket Q2-1884 3B:562), baptised in Burwell on 22nd June 1884, son of George and Julia
BRIDGEMAN (née HARDING).
1891 census...Aged 7 he was at Newnham, Burwell with his father George BRIDGEMAN [51] labourer; mother Julia [33]; brothers Louis N. [9] and Montague E [1]. All were born in Burwell. 1901 census...Aged 17 horseman on farm, he was at Newnham, Burwell with his widowed mother and brothers Louis (stockman on farm), Montague, Clifford [9], Reginald [5] and Baden [4 months]. The new siblings were all born in Burwell. His father (an Army pensioner) had died in 1900. 1911 census...Aged 27, a farm labourer, he was at Parsonage Lane, Burwell with his brother Louis (labourer), mother, brothers Montague (factory labourer), Clifford (farm labourer), Reginald (shepherd's boy) and Baden. He was an older brother of Clifford BRIDGEMAN who died at home in 1918 see here |
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He enlisted in Cambridge as a regular soldier. Unfortunately his Army records are not available, but of course, as a regular/Reservist he was quickly sent out to France,
arriving there on the 12th September 1914. That is according to the medal rolls, but his medal index card is missing from Ancestry. He had two cards, one as
Percy Bridgeman for the War Medal and Victory Medal and a card for P.Bridgeman detailing his 1914 Star but neither are on Ancestry.
At 1.30 on the morning of the 26th of October 1914 the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers left their billets to relieve the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment in trenches at Neuve Chapelle. Rain was falling and sniper fire was continuous; one officer was killed by a sniper shortly after dawn. The morning passed uneventfully but at 2.30pm the Germans opened a sudden artillery barrage on the Royal Fusiliers, who were on the Northumberland Fusiliers' left, followed at 3.30pm by a massed infantry attack. The Royal Fusiliers were forced back and the Northumberland men also fell back but at an angle to protect their flank. Despite German assault troops getting into the positions they soon were forced back. After a short lull they attacked again, being driven back once again at the point of the bayonet and by heavy rifle fire. As darkness gathered the Germans attacked again but were beaten off by the Northumberland Fusiliers. Presumed to have died on 26th October 1914. He was found at map ref 36.M.35.b.3.0.( see below) where 7 bodies were found in one grave and five were identified. All were then re buried in Canadian Cemetery No.2 which is within the perimeter of the Canadian Memorial Park at Vimy Ridge, around 17 miles from where they were found. Percy's identity disc was means of identifying him. Of the 32 of the battalion to die that day, only those five were identified later, the rest are named on the Le Touret Memorial.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
