Tipton

Private 24143 Harold Wooldridge

Died of Wounds on Wednesday, 13th December 1916, age 21.
Buried in Grave VI. C. 22. at Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France.

8th Bn., Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt.). 32nd Brigade of 11th Division.

Son of Thomas and Eliza Wooldridge, of Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Bradley, Yorks, Enlisted: Milnsbridge, Yorks, Resident: Rastrick, Yorks.

First landed France & Flanders, 26th September 1916.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because his death was reported in the Tipton Herald.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/512442/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
12 Barnfield Road, Tipton, Staffs (also there in 1891)
Thomas Wooldridge (48, Puddler, born Tipton), his wife Eliza (47, born Shelton), and their 5 children: Fred (19, Forge Roller, born Tipton), Horace (16, Commercial Clerk, born Tipton), May (12, born Tipton), Charles Henry (9, born Tipton), and Harold (5, born Tipton).

1911 Census
66 Toll End Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Wooldridge (58, Puddler, born Tipton), his wife Eliza (57, born Potteries), and 3 of their 7 surviving children of 7: Fred (27, Shingler, born Tipton), Charles Henry (19, Tram Conductor, born Tipton), and Harold (15, Carpenter, born Tipton).

Harold Wooldridge and Florence Winifred Marriot married at St. Matthew's Church, Rastrick on 7th September 1914. Harold was 19 years old and employed as a Baker, living in Stallingborough, near Grimsby; his father was Thomas Wooldridge and was employed as an Iron Worker. Florence was 18 years old, and living at 5 Laura Street, Rastrick; her father, Charles Marriot, had been a Police Sergeant, but was deceased. They had two daughters, Winifred Mary born 9th December 1914 and Eveline Mildred born 25th June 1916.

Personal Data

”Soldiers Died in the Great War” records that the only Wooldridge from Duke of Wellington's killed in WW1 is Harold Wooldridge, 24143, who died of wounds on 13th December 1916. This matches everything in the Tipton Herald article, but 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' says born Bradley, Yorkshire. His Soldier's Papers also say born Bradley, nr Huddersfield. This is definitely the man from the Tipton Herald article, and Commonwealth War Graves confirms his parents living in Tipton. The 1901 and 1911 census shows Harold living and born in Tipton. This is confusing, but this is the correct man as his siblings shown on the Army' Statement of Relative's following his death all match the census, but they also are living in the Huddersfield area.

Harold attested on 6th July 1914 at Huddersfield for 4 years service as a Territorial with the 7th Battalion, West Riding Regiment (Duke of Wellingtons). He was 19 years of age, 5 feet 6½ inches tall, with a 34-inch chest; his vision and physical development was stated as 'good'. As a Territorial his commitment was for Home Service until 26th June 1916 when he signed the 'Imperial Service Obligation' agreeing to serve outside the United Kingdom. He landed in France on 26th September 1916, and was posted to the 8th Battalion, West Riding Regiment on 14th October.

After Harold's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £2/17/8d (2 pounds, 17 shillings and 8 pence); this was paid to his widow, Florence W., in April 1917. His War Gratuity was £10/10/0d (10 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to Florence in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Harold had enlisted in approximately August 1914.

Florence was awarded a Widow's Pension of £1/2/11d (1 pound, 2 shillings and 11 pence) per week, effective from 25th June 1917 for herself and her 2 daughters. Her address at this time was 12 Jubilee Mount, Rastrick, Yorkshire.

Action resulting in his death

The 8th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) (8/WR) had 9 Officers and 142 Other Ranks killed during September 1916 in action at the ‘WunderWerk’ and Mouquet Farm near Thiepval. They were withdrawn from the line on 1st October to rest and get the reinforcements necessary to bring them up to strength once again. The 8/WR were located to Domléger, about 25 miles behind the Somme in the direction of Abbeville, when Harold Wooldridge joined them on 14th September.

It was at the very end of November 1916 that the 8/WR went back into the line on the Somme battlefield giving Harold his first experience of front-line activity. The 8/WR were located at Beaucourt in the Ancre valley, just 2 miles north-west of Mouquet Farm.

Beaucourt had been captured by the Royal Naval Division in mid-November, and subsequent minor gains had been made north-eastwards towards Bois d’Hollande. The Germans were still in command of a crest line just beyond the wood giving observation over the Bois d’Hollande, and the slope back to Beaucourt. Although in British hands, this was an exposed position and subject to observed German artillery fire.

The 8/WR rotated between the front-line position at the Bois d’Hollande and the support trench (Beaucourt Trench) just over 1000 yards further back – the latter is exactly the site of the current Royal Naval Division memorial in Beaucourt. Between 1st and 13th December, the 8/WR War Diary reports that 30 men were wounded, 9 of them killed.

Harold had just 2 weeks front-line experience when he was wounded on 12th December, he received gunshot wounds (GSW) to the buttocks and thigh. The term GSW also covers injuries from shell fire, it is highly likely that his wounds were the result of German shell-fire.

He was admitted to the 33rd Field Ambulance on the 12th December and transferred to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers on the same day. It was here he died on the next day, 13th December 1916, and was buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery adjacent to the Casualty Clearing Station.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 6th January 1917.
TIPTON SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS.
PRIVATE H. WOOLDRIDGE.
Private H. Wooldridge of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment is another Tipton soldier to give his life for King and country. He was 21 years of age, and enlisted at the outbreak of the war. He had only been in France for eight weeks when he died from wounds received in action on December 13th last. He was a native of Tipton, and an old scholar of Tipton Green Council School. His father, Mr Thomas Wooldridge, resides at Ocker Hill, whilst his young wife and two children live at Huddersfield where he was last employed.
A very sympathetic letter to Mrs Wooldridge from the Chaplain, states that her husband was so badly wounded in the body and right thigh that in spite of the care of doctors and sisters, he passed away without much conscious suffering. He was buried with military honours in the cemetery near the other brave comrades who, like him, had so nobly given up their lives.