Commemorating ancestors who were involved in World War 1, including -

Private 602, Edward Samuel BRIDGEMENT (Australia),
Rifleman 17/1344, Herbert McWILLIAMS (Ireland) and
Private 7395, Robert P MULHOLLAND (Ireland).

Monday 26 December 2016

25 December, 1916. Christmas at Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington, Kent, England

100 years ago today ...

This postcard/photo was sent home by my maternal grand uncle -
Private 602 Edward Samuel BRIDGEMENT to his parents in Sydney, NSW, Australia, whilst he was recuperating at Orpington.

It appears that the postcard/photo was taken at Christmas time in 1916.

On the reverse side of the card it is addressed as coming from 'Ontario Military Hosp., Orpington, Kent, England' and dated '7 Jan 1916'. However, I believe the card should have been dated 7 Jan 1917, as Edward was actually at Medinet Habu, Luxor, Egypt in January 1916.

He was injured at Pozieres, France, on 19 July 1916.

In the postcard message to his mother and father he says - 
"This is a photo of our ward taken at Christmas time, we had a splendid time". 
Therefore, this photo would have been taken around Christmas Day 1916.

Edward is sitting on the floor in the front row, third from the left.


© Geoff Mulholland 2013 - 2016