Name
Arthur Ernest Aldridge
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
105156
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Arthur Aldridge was one of four sons born to George and Emily Aldridge. The couple also had a daughter. George was a Butcher by trade and in 1911 was living in Adrian Road, Abbots Langley. The family farmed in the Gade Valley, and in June 1918 the Hertfordshire Advertiser reported that George and Emily Aldridge were living at Home Park Farm in Kings Langley. They also owned land near modern-day Francis Coombe School and a substantial Butchery in St Albans. Three of George’s sons served in the Great War, and all survived.
Arthur was born on 26th April 1895 at Abbots Langley. At the time of the 1911 Census he was employed as a Railway Clerk. He was recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour from September 1914, serving with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, and was listed with this unit right through the War. However the Medal Roll indicated that he served at some point with the Royal Berkshire Regiment.
In December 1915 the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine noted that Arthur and his brother George, who was also listed with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, were both suffering from dysentery and typhoid. Throughout 1915 the Yeomanry served at Gallipoli and it is likely that the brothers were taken ill around the time that the unit was evacuated to Egypt. The Hertfordshire Yeomanry served in Egypt, returned to the Western Front, and ended the War in Mesopotamia.
On 15th June 1918 the Hertfordshire Advertiser reported that Arthur had been awarded the Croix du Guerre with Palme, indicating that it was won in action.
“Sergt Aldridge, Herts Yeomanry, son of Mr and Mrs G Aldridge, Home Farm, King’s Langley, has been awarded the Croix du Guerre for gallantry in the field during operations at the end of 1917. In a letter to Sergt Aldridge’s parents, Capt Reginald Abel Smith, his commanding officer, writes – “He has always shown himself absolutely fearless under fire and all the work he has had to do in the field, and there have been one or two difficult jobs he has done in the way that proves that I shall be able to place perfect reliance in whatever he does. The special work for which he has gained this distinction was on November 18th, 1917 (Ed. presume not 8th – illegible), when he accompanied his troop officer, Lieut Newman, in a difficult patrol, which kept them under machine gun and shell fire most of the day, and the result of the patrol proved of considerable value to the later operations. I may add that Lieut Newman was awarded the Military Cross for the same work”.
Arthur was recorded in the Absent Voter Records for Langleybury in Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919. He was serving as a Sergeant in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry and his address was given at Home Park Farm.
Arthur Aldridge survived the War. After the War he worked in an amateur capacity with the Hertfordshire Football Association, and became President of the Abbots Langley Cricket Club. He also had success as a sprinter, which was uncommon for a relatively tall man. His brothers, George who rose to the rank of Lieutenant with the 14th Hussars, and Herbert, who served with the Army Service Corps both survived the War.
All three brothers were also included on the Langleybury Roll of Honour.
Additional Information
Formerly Hertfordshire Yeomanry and service numbers 5892, 36229
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
