Main CPGW Record
Surname: ALDRIDGE
Forename(s): Arthur
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 13932
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 27
Date of Death: 1918-04-16
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. D. 4.
CWGC Cemetery: MONT NOIR MILITARY CEMETERY, ST. JANS-CAPPEL
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Arthur Aldridge was the son of David and Elizabeth Aldridge, née Fry. David was born at Walsham le Willows, Suffolk and Elizabeth at Skipton, Yorkshire. Arthur was related to Private Arthur Lambert (6057) (q.v.) and Private Herbert Lambert (266907) (q.v.)
1891 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 32, Westgate - Arthur Aldridge, aged 4 months, born Skipton, son of David and Elizabeth Aldridge.
1901 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 50, Victoria Road - Arthur Aldridge, aged 10 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire, son of David and Elizabeth Aldridge.
1911 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 50, Victoria Road - Arthur Aldridge, aged 20 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire, son of David and Elizabeth Aldridge.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte A. Oldridge [sic], 13932, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France [sic]. Date of entry therein: 7.7.15. K. in A. 16.4.18.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Arthur Aldridge, 13932, W. Rid. R. K. in A.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Arthur Aldridge, 13932, 8th W. Rid. R.; 1/6 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 16.4.18.
Arthur served at Gallipoli with the 8th (Service) Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) and was probably transferred to the 1/6th Bn when the 8th Bn was disbanded on 13 February 1918.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Arthur Aldridge, 13932, 1/6 Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 16.4.18. Belgium in action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father and Sole Legatee - David. £29 11s. 4d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Arthur. Name(s) on card(s): Dependant: Mrs Elizabeth Aldridge. Relationship: Mother. Address: 50, Victoria Road, Earby, Colne.
See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
ALDRIDGE, Arthur, aged 27, West Riding Regiment, (Trench Mortar Battery), 50, Victoria Road, [Earby], killed in action April 17, 1918.
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Private Arthur ALDRIDGE
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
17 September 1915
8th DUKE'S HARD HIT IN GALLIPOLI - Letters from Earby Lads
Private H. T. Smith, of the 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, in the Dardanelles, writing to his parents at 79, Colne Road, in reference to the recent severe fighting, says:- "We made an advance on the 22nd and 23rd, but I am sorry to say we paid very dearly for it. We were cut up terribly, and the worst part of it was that we lost a lot of Earby lads. Some of them I am afraid you will never see again. This is not civilised warfare, it is simply murder.
"It simply rained bullets and shrapnel, but I am still amongst the survivors. I was cut off from my regiment for three days, but I managed to fall in with the Munster Fusiliers, and I might here mention that my name has been sent in for burying dead under fire whilst with the Munsters. You will perhaps have heard of this before you get this letter. One of Clark's from Earby got a bullet through the eye, and the other is wounded; Burrows is wounded; Stockdale, Aldridge, Cross, and T. Hargreaves (Barnoldswick) is missing. Sam Rigby is alive, but taken prisoner, so you may tell his mother not to be down-hearted, because I am confident he is all right. Grassington Joe is injured, shot through the leg."
21 April 1916
EARBY SOLDIERS' PARCELS FUND
Nearly 100 letters of acknowledgement and appreciation have been received from recipients of the second batch of parcels sent early in the New Year to Earby men serving abroad through the above agency. The organisation is a sub-committee of the War Distress Committee, of which Mr. A.J. Birley, J.P., is chairman, and Mr. John Hartley hon. secretary. Altogether 160 parcels were despatched in the last consignment, and the following is a representative selection of the letters received in reply:-
From Lance Corporal A. Aldridge, 9th [sic] West Riding Regiment, 11th Division, British Mediterranean Force:- "I received the parcel all right which the Committee sent, and I hope you will give them my thanks for the useful articles it contained. We are stationed not very far from Alexandria, but as we are not allowed to go there very often, the articles came in very handy. It is winter here now, but hotter than in England in the summer, but we are living in hopes of seeing Earby again before the summer comes. There are some grand places and sights to see here, but it is too hot for work with any comfort."
03 May 1918
Private Arthur Aldridge, Earby
Private Arthur Aldridge, Duke of Wellington's (Trench Mortar Battery), killed on April 17th, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Aldridge, 50 Victoria Road, Earby, 27 years of age and single. He enlisted in August, 1914, and took part in the Dardanelles campaign, being present at, the Suvla Bay landing. After, a short sojourn in Egypt he was transferred to the Western Front in October, 1916, and was home on leave in January this year. One of his two brothers (Private Robert Aldridge) was recently, wounded and another is still in France.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
17 September 1915
EARBY LADS WITH THE 8th DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S
News of Comrades
Private James Walsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Walsh of 79 Colne Road, Earby, who is in the 8th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, has written home some interesting war-jottings, in which he says:- "You will find me a different lad if I get home again. We have been in some stiff 'does' and have suffered heavily, 320 being left out of 1000 of us. Our brigade has done very well, but we have paid the cost. The General says he wished he had all his Yorkshire lads back. Our Brigade has been in front on all the big advances, and that is a big honour. I am afraid H. Burrows is badly wounded. I went out of the dug-out in the trenches at five o'clock on Sunday, the 22nd, to find water for myself and pals. I found some about 200 yards away. Before five at night there had been about thirty shot down going to that well, and we could see them all. It was rotten. Never mind, I have come through so far, and I may come through all right at the end. We had a service on the beach last night, and we sang the hymn, 'Lead, kindly light'. Well it takes a bit to move me, but that made me cry. I have prayed above once. As I am finishing this letter H.T. Smith has just come in, having been missing three days. R. Hewtson, E. Smith, J.T. Illingworth, H.T. Smith, H. Spencer (tackler), L. Trotter and J. Walsh are all well. Both Clarkes are wounded."
Another Earby lad, Private N[H].T. Smith, of the same regiment in the Dardanelles, writes:-"We made an advance on the 22nd and 23rd, but I am sorry to say we paid very dearly for it. We were cut up terribly, and the worst part of it was that we lost a lot of Earby lads. Some of them, I am afraid, you will never see again. This is not civilised warfare; it is simply murder. It simply rained bullets and shrapnel, but I am still amongst the survivors. I was cut off from my regiment for three days, but I managed to fall in with the Munster Fusiliers, and I might mention here that my name has been sent in for being dead whilst under fire with the Munsters. You will perhaps have heard of this before you get my letter. One of the Clarkes from Earby got a bullet through the eye, and another is wounded. Burrows is wounded. Stockdale, Aldridge, Cross, and T. Hargreaves of Barnoldswick are missing. Sam Rigby is alive but taken prisoner, so you may tell his mother not to be downhearted, because I am confident he is alright.
03 May 1918
ALDRIDGE - Killed in action April 17th, Pte. Arthur Aldridge, of the West Riding Regiment (Trench Mortar Battery), son of Mr. And Mrs. David Aldridge, 50, Victoria Road, Earby, aged 27.
03 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Pte. Arthur Aldridge, Duke of Wellington's (Trench Mortar Battery), was killed on April 17th, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Aldridge, 50, Victoria Road, Earby. He was 27 years of age, and single. He enlisted in August, 1914, and took part in the Dardanelles campaign, being present at the Suvla Bay landing. After a short sojourn in Egypt he was transferred to the western front in October, 1916, and was home on leave in January this year. One of his brothers, (Pte. Robert Aldridge) was recently wounded, and another is still in France.
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