Name
Joseph William Aldridge
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/09/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31651
Northumberland Fusiliers
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Joseph William Aldridge was born in Northchurch, nr Berkhamsted, Herts in 1887, the son of Joseph and Ann Aldridge, and baptised on 3 March 1887 in Berkhamsted. He was one of seven children, although four had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Orchard End, Northchurch, nr Berkhamsted, where his father was a Blacksmith's Labourer. They had moved to 40 Gossoms End, Northchurch by 1901 and Joseph was then listed as a Coachbuilder’s Labourer. They remained in Gossoms End in 1911 but had moved to No. 55. Joseph was then working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer.
His parents later lived at 61 Ellesmere Road, Great Berkhamsted, Herts.
Wartime Service
Joseph enlisted in Berkhamsted, Herts and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 26608 later being transferred to the 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 31651.
Joseph was killed in action on 24 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. He is one of 14 soldiers from the 11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers named on the Memorial who died on the same day.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £3 10s 11d. Pension cards suggest that a pension was refused.
Inscription on family grave in St Mary's Churchyard, Northchurch reads "Joseph William Aldridge, 11th Northumberland Fusiliers, Killed in France, 24th September 1916, age 29 years, who has no known grave.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Jo Bayley, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database
