Frederick Ewart Bridgman, 10th Glosters

[Geoff B]

I have only just found this site . My Grandfathers Cousin Sjt F Ewart Bridgman was  with the 10th Battion Gloucestershire regiment and died on the 25th September at the Battle of Loos , his body was found was found in the first German trench .

 

His body is buried at Cabernet Rouge Cementary at Souzez, cant understand whay he was buried at the Loos memorial ste cementary . He was buried with two Private soldiers either side Private E S Smith and Private A L Carter.

 

Love to know if they were in the same platoon..

 

Best wishes Geoff B

[Michelle Young]

Welcome to the forum @Geoff B As he’s  buried at Cabaret Rouge, I’d say his remains were found quite a bit later. Yes, checking the concentration report, they were buried in 1925. By that time, the cemeteries around Loos where the Glosters are buried, ie St Mary’s ADS, Dud Corner would have been closed for burials. Certain cemeteries were kept open, Cabaret Rouge being one of them. Note on the report, his date of death is wrong. 
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/585062/frederick-ewart-bridgman/#&gid=2&pid=1

I thought I recognised him, he appears in the book by my friend Nick Christian.

( I have a personal interest in the 10th, as my husbands great uncle Ernest Young was wounded serving with them on 25/09/15 and died of those wounds on 01/10/15) 

[Geoff B]

Thanks Michelle .

He indeed was buried in 1925, was lucky enough to see a paln where he was found . regarding the 10th Glosters, those who came from Cheltenham , was involved representing the family at the both the 2015. 2018 celbration and the 90th . I was lucky enopugh to march through cheltenham getting very wet.

 

Thank you for your help explains why he was buried where he is now .

 

 

[Michelle Young]

I’ve emailed Nick to see if he can shed any light on the platoon. We go to Loos for every September 25th if we can. 

[Geoff B]

Michelle ,

Many thanks , I am in contact with Nick who is currently in India .

 

On his return will help me have a look.

 

Thank you for your help.

[weshallremember]

Forename: Frederick Ewart

Surname: Bridgman

Rank: Sergeant

Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment

Institution: St Paul’s Practising School

---

Frederick Ewart Bridgman was born in 1895, the son of Frederick John and Bessie Kate Bridgman of 2 Hungerford Cottages, Cheltenham. Prior to the war he worked as a clerk at Messrs. Frederick Wright and Co., tobacconists.

Like Ernest Artus, Frederick was also a Sergeant in the 10^th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, and also lost his life on 25 September 1915 during the Battle of Loos. He was 20 years old. Fellow soldier Private J. Bayliss wrote home to a friend in Cheltenham: “Just a line to let you know I found this little photo (of a young woman) on a dead body which is that of Sergeant F.E. Bridgeman 13335, No.3 Company, 10^th Gloucesters… from what I can see he was one of the first to get to the enemy trench”. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, and his headstone reads “Never forgotten”. Frederick was one of the nine ex-Practising School pupils to lose his life on 25 September 1915.

 

[weshallremember]

WHO WAS THE YOUNG WOMAN

also

F S  SMITH   

 numbered  on the medal index card as 67347 error

 

Edited 18 November by weshallremember

[Geoff B]

I have asked the family about this , we think it may have been his younger sister Phylis .

 

 

The people we could have asked are no longer with this , but chatting to David Bridgman we think it was likely to have been phlis. Incidentally she liobved to into her 90s.

[Geoff B]

A few more items from FE Bridgman

 

map buried fe bridgman.pdf

[HarryBrook]

A report of 10th Glosters casualties in The Echo (Cheltenham newspaper) of 4 October 1915 describes Sgt. Bridgman as being of "No. 3 Company, 10th Gloucesters."

[Geoff B]

Thanks Harry