On the weekend of 17th & 18th March 2018, I went on a trip to Northern France and Belgium. The purpose of this trip was mainly to honour my mother's Uncle Ted. My mother had never met her uncle but often spoke of him. Uncle Ted had been remembered in family discussions, as he had volunteered to serve his country in the First World War.
During the war, Ted kept in regular contact with his family back in Sydney, Australia, and a number of his letters and postcards to his mother, father, sisters and brother were treasured by the family and eventually handed down from his mother Annie Josephine (nee Gillham) Bridgement to his sister Vivian Doris (nee Bridgement) Munton, to her daughter Doris Anne (nee Munton) Horsburgh and some time after Doris' death, her husband William Frank Cooper Horsburgh passed the letters on to my mother, Patricia Ann (nee Frost) Mulholland. Ted or Private E.S.Bridgement as he was known, was wounded in action in France on 20th July 1916, he had sustained gun shot wounds to both thighs. In a undated letter, of which only one page survives, he described the circumstances when he was wounded -
"... each hand under heavy artillery machine guns & different others was weapons I reached their [there] safely but our job was to come back and carry more Bombs and back we started. I might tell you that only 5 out of our section reached their[there]. I got about 10 yds from the Germans trench coming back when I got hit so you can guess it was not to[too] easy a job to get back a distance of nearly 500 yds when I was wounded in both thighs but thanks God I managed to struggle their[there]. It took me over a hour. It was not to nice crawling along seeing dead men lying all around you and shells bursting only yds away from you when I got back into our trenches the stretcher bearers where [were] very busy so I crawled into a dug out and found 15 more wounded comrades there was hardly room to move. I waited all night and could not get a stretcher bearer so I decided to struggle down to the dressing station It was about a mile from where we where[were]"
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| Page from an undated letter written by Private E.S.Bridgement, presumed to have been written to his parents in either late July or early August 1916. Digitised by G.J. Mulholland. |
He was admitted to the Ambulance Train and then to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, later he was transferred to the Hospital Ship "St David" and finally admitted to Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington Kent, England on the 22nd July 1916.
In a letter to his mother dated 9th August 1916, Ted writes ..."I told you in my last letter about how I got wounded I also told you I would be up and about in a few days. I was up out of bed for over a week getting about on Crutchers then I started to hobble about without them and I felt something under my knee every time I walked so I told the doctor, and he sent me to the X Ray and the next day he told me that there was a scrappnel Bullet there and so I had to get him out, went under the Operation yesterday morning about 8 o'clock and I did not wake up till 3 o'clock. I never felt a bit sick when I woke up it was just like waking out of a sleep. I believe the Bullet was in very deep the orderly told me that they where[were] about 1 hour & half getting it out. I suppose I will have to stop in bed for about a week or two until the wound eals[heals] up. I am a very lucky fellow Most of the lads feel very sick for a couple of Days after a operation but thanks God I am feeling just as well has[as] ever. My temperature was never above normal and I felt very Hungary[hungry] when I woke up I got something to eat the same night so there was nothing wrong with me"
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| Page from a letter dated 9th August 1916 written by Private E.S.Bridgement to his mother. Digitised by G.J. Mulholland. |
Ted was eventually discharged and proceeded on furlough. During his furlough he was admitted to the State Apartments, Windsor Castle, on Tuesday 13th March, 1917.
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| Private E.S.Bridgement's admission card to the State Apartments, Windsor Castle, 13th March 1917. This card was sent with a letter written by Ted Bridgement to his parents. Digitised by G.J. Mulholland |
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| Reverse side of Private E.S.Bridgement's admission card to the State Apartments, Windsor Castle, 13th March 1917. Digitised by G.J. Mulholland |
In a letter to his father dated 21st March 1917, Ted writes ..."I have been having a great time lately been into London 6 times in the last fortnight seeing different theatres & I also went to see Windsor Castle it was very interesting and I saw everything that was to be seen from the throne down to the stables Oh Dad when I have the luck to get home again I will be able to tell you all about it and about different other places I have saw[seen]."
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| Page from a letter dated 21st March 1917 written by Private E.S.Bridgement to his father. Digitised by G.J. Mulholland. |
Private E.S.Bridgement rejoined his unit in France on 31 August 1917.
The letters and postcards that Ted sent were especially important to the family as on the 18th day of March 1918, at approximately 10 am, Private E.S.Bridgement was killed in action.
Amongst the collection of Ted's letters, was a letter dated 28th August 1918, from the Australian Red Cross Society to his mother Mrs. A Bridgement, notifying her that seven reports of Private E.S.Bridgement's death had been sent to the Australian Red Cross.
- "He was in "C" Company. I did not see the casualty, but he was killed at the same time as Capt. Adams, M.C., by a shell, that landed on Company Headquarters at Warneton. He was batman to Lieut. Haviland, who was wounded by the same shell. He, I think, is in England at the present time and would refer you to him for further particulars. I think he would be buried in the Cemetery at Wulverghem."
Informant - Sergeant G.Wrapson,
30th Battalion, Headquarters,
3rd Australian Auxilary Hospita[l]
Dartford.
Note. Written Lieut. Haviland, 14/6/18.
London, 17/6/18.- "He was in a dugout with Capt. Adams, to whom he was batman, at Messines, when a shell dropped into the dugout and killed both Capt.Adams and Bridgement. Capt. Adams was buried in Douve Cemetery, behind Messines Ridge, but I do not know if Bridgement was buried there. I was just behind the dugout when it happened. Lieut. Haviland was also, in the dugoug[dugout], and was badly wounded."
Reference - Private A. Barbour, No.2496
No.47 General Hospital, 27/5/18.
Le Treport,7/6/18.- "Re No.602, Private E.S.Bridgement, "C" Co., 30th Battalion. He was with me when he was killed 18/3/18, at Messines. He and I and Capt. Adams (who was killed) were in the Co. Headquarters dugout, and Fritz was strafing heavily. A 6" shell blew in the dugout at about 10 a.m. and a piece of shell struck Bridgement, killing him instantly. He was buried at Petit Douve Cemetery near Messines, and a Cross was erected, and I believe the grave was registered. He was buried beside Capt. Adams, who was killed at the same time. Bridgement was always reliable, and about the coolest man under fire I have ever seen. He was a general favourite throughout the Battalion. He was always ready and willing to do any job that was offered. His kit effects will have been sent by the War Office to his people"
Letter from - Lieut. Haviland, The O.C.,
France 24/6/18.
London, 28/6/18.
- "I helped to bury him in March, 1918, in "La Petite Douve" Cemetery, Messines, close to the grave of Capt. Adams, 30th Battalion, who was buried the same day. Each grave was marked with a little peg with the name on the field card, but the Crosses had not been made when we left. we were relieved by the 2nd Division. He was the only Bridgement in the Battalion, or Company, but I did not know him personally."
Informant - Private W.H.Berry, no.3404,
30th Battalion, Headquarters,
Harefield.
London, 20/6/18.
- "I knew Bridgement well, he was in "C" Co., he was short, rather stout, dark, clean shaved, about 25. On the 18th March we were in front of Warneton, holding the line. During the night I heard he was killed by shell explosion, with Capt. Adams. At dawn next morning I saw the bodies of Capt. Adams and Bridgement carried out for burial. There was a Cemetery near the first Casualty Station nearby. The Battalion Headquarters would know where they were buried."
Informant - Private A.Clarke, No.289,
30th Battalion, "C" Co., 12th pltn
Australian Camp, Rouelles.
Havre, 21/6/18.
- Capt. Adams and Private Bridgement were both in a dugout in the front line, near Messines, when a shell came and blew in the dugout, killing both. I am not sure where they were buried, but the bodies were carried to Bethleinen Farm. Private P. Weston, No.4121 was one of the Stretcher Bearers, and might be able to give further information."
Description. Medium height and stout, had a split lip.
Informant - C.S.M. Leonard Bickerton, No.2283,
30th Battalion, "C' Co., Headquart-
Military Hospital, ers
Devonport.
Home Address - West Maitland,
N.S.W.
Note. Written Private Weston, 29/6/18.
London, 21/6/18.
- I saw him being brought out at the same time as Capt. Adams of the same Battalion. I also saw his grave which is situated right next to Capt.Adams' in a Cemetery at Wulverghen."
Informant - Private J.O'Connow, No.730,
30th Battalion,
Dartford.
London, 5/6/18.
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| Page 1 of a letter from the Australian Red Cross Society dated 28th August 1918 to Ted's mother Mrs A Bridgement. Digitised by G.J.Mulholland |
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| Page 2 of a letter from the Australian Red Cross Society dated 28th August 1918 to Ted's mother Mrs A Bridgement. Digitised by G.J.Mulholland |
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| Page 3 of a letter from the Australian Red Cross Society dated 28th August 1918 to Ted's mother Mrs A Bridgement. Digitised by G.J.Mulholland |
We arrived at the side road leading to La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery at approximately 9:45 am on Sunday 18th March 2018, and there was a bitterly cold wind
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| © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
there was a sign at the side of the building stating that this was a private road,
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| © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
so we decided to walk down towards the farm and cemetery
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| © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Private road leading to La Plus Douve Farm and Cemetery © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm, the Cemetery to the right is the Ration Farm Annexe, La Plus Douve Farm Cemtery is actually located behind the farm buildings. © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Entrance to La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Australian Imperial Forces 602 Private E.S.Bridgement 30th Bn.Australian Inf. 18th March 1918 Age 22 Greater Love Hath No Man Than This He Laid Down His Life For His Friends III D 11 © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Australian Imperial Forces 602 Private E.S.Bridgement 30th Bn.Australian Inf. 18th March 1918 Age 22 Greater Love Hath No Man Than This He Laid Down His Life For His Friends III D 11 © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Australian Imperial Forces 602 Private E.S.Bridgement 30th Bn.Australian Inf. 18th March 1918 Age 22 Greater Love Hath No Man Than This He Laid Down His Life For His Friends III D 11 © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Australian Imperial Forces Captain E.Adams M.C. 30th Bn.Australian Inf. 18th March 1918 III D 12 © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| Australian Imperial Forces 602 Private E.S.Bridgement 30th Bn.Australian Inf. 18th March 1916 Age 22 III D 11 &Australian Imperial Forces Captain E.Adams M.C. 30th Bn.Australian Inf. 18th March 1918 III D 12 © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Cemetery Register © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery. I can be seen here signing the Visitors Book, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, photo used with kind permission of Kyan Mortazavi © 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Visitors Book Commonwealth War Graves Commission © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery Visitors Book Commonwealth War Graves Commission © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
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| La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery Visitors Book Commonwealth War Graves Commission © Geoff Mulholland 2018 |
I had taken a digitised copy of Ted's letters to his family and a few of their letters to him, with me to the cemetery. It was my intention to read a few of them at his graveside. However, it was bitterly cold and had started to snow, so I decided it was time to make our way home.
I am also pleased to publish this blog post on the 21st Anniversary of my mother's passing 21st March 2018.
Links:
© Geoff Mulholland 2013 - 2018
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