No.202170, Private, Walter BRIDGES
Aged 20
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Walter Bridges was born on 26th May 1896 in Fornham St.Martin (Thingoe Q3-1896 4A:781), baptised on 25th October 1896 at Fornham St.Martin, son of Robert Arthur and Rachel
BRIDGE (née PETCH). His father was 'Robert' or 'Arthur' at various times.
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Old Hall Lane, Fornham St.Martin with his father Arthur BRIDGES [48] maltster's labourer; his mother Rachel [48] born Culford Heath; his brothers Robert [20] a carpenter's labourer; Arthur [16] gardener, Fred [14] farm labourer, and William [10 months]; sisters May [12], Mabel [11], Lillie [9] and Flory [6]. All except his mother were born in Fornham St.Martin. Also there was his aunt Druscilla BRIDGES [55] born Hargrave. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was in Fornham St Martin with his parents, brothers Robert, Arthur, Frederick and Kimberley (William Kimberley) [10]; sisters Lily and Florie. His mother had borne 15 children but 4 had died (one being an earlier Walter -1893-1894). |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds and died of bronchitis and pneumonia at No.5 General Hospital, Rouen.
The Bury Free Press of 27th October 1917 reported:- A FORNHAM FIGHTING FAMILY The article shows the photograph of the four brothers below and details Arthur as being in the Royal Horse Artillery in Egypt, Albert Edward in the Army Ordnance Corps, training in England, Frederick of the York and Lancaster Regiment, back in France again after a serious illness.There were two other brothers, one (Robert) rejected for service and the other (William) soon to join up. Walter, originally in the Suffolk Yeomanry (as per photo), was called up on March 8th 1916 and went to France on December 8th. There he contracted bronchitis and pneumonia and succumbed to his illness in the hospital at Rouen on March 29th 1917.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
