Name
George Ridgeway
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
269145
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
George Ridgeway was born in the spring of 1881 at Primrose Hill, Abbots Langley. He was one of nine children (three sons and six daughters) born to Charles and Sarah Ridgeway. His brother Charles also served in the Great War. At the time of the 1891 Census the family lived at 27 Breakspear Road, Abbots Langley. Charles worked as a General Labourer. The family continued to live at the same address in Breakspear Road. In the 1901 Census Charles was shown working as a Brick-layer’s Labourer, and in the 1911 Census he was recorded working as a Brick-layer. George worked as a Carter in 1901, but by 1911 George he had left the family home. He had married in 1908, and by 1911 was living at Manor House Cottage, Kitters Green, Abbots Langley, with his wife Lucy and two children. At that time he worked as a Horseman on a Farm.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour recorded George for the first time in September 1916, serving with the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment. His Medal Roll Index Card noted that he had enlisted on 18th January 1916.
The records of the Herts at War Project indicated that George was wounded in action fighting with the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment. On the morning of 31st July 1917, the Herts attacked the German defensive Langemark Line, near St Julien, to the north of Ypres. Within a very short time the battalion was cut to pieces. Only about 130 men returned. 477 men were recorded dead, missing, or wounded.
The Parish Roll of Honour recorded George serving with the 1st Hertfordshire’s in January 1918, however he was eventually Discharged Wounded on 2nd June 1918.
George survived the War, and in the 1920’s lived at 97 Manor House Cottages in Abbots Langley High Street, and worked as the Head Gardner at the Manor House. His brother, Charles, progressed through Officer Training and survived the War, as did his brother-in-law, Harry Chandler, who had married his Sister, Alice.
Additional Information
Discharged Wounded
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
