"Lambs to the Slaughter" - A view of WW1 by Private Edward Tidridge

Welsh Newspapers

The National Library of Wales offers free on-line access to the newspapers of Wales. I visited the website while researching my Welsh grandfathers, both of whom served in World War 1 in the 1st Monmouthshire Regiment and 7th Battalion South Wales Borderers. While I was searching the site, I thought it was worth entering the surname Tidridge, as I knew there was a Tidridge family in Swansea. I came across two fascinating newspaper articles on Edward Tidridge, a soldier at the start of the World War 1, who was wounded in the first few weeks of the war.

Edward Tidridge’s WW1 Story

On August 4th 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany. The two newspaper articles about Edward were written just 2 months after World War 1 began. The articles told the story of Private Edward Tidridge from Swansea, who was in the Somerset Light Infantry when war was declared. The 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry was stationed at Colchester at the start of the war but were quickly mobilised and was among the first few groups of soldiers to leave England for France. On 22 August 1914 they landed at Havre and fought in the battle of Le Cateau, on 26th August, during the retreat form Mons.

In the article Edward recounted how they sailed across the channel, travelled by train, then marched 20 miles and then the regiment were quickly sent into action. Although Edward had been a soldier for 11 years he was unprepared for the horrors of this war and he described how awful it was “to hear the moans of the wounded and dying”. The battalion were forced to retreat to a village which was soon shelled by the Germans, including a shell landing on the church flying the Red Cross flag. They were ordered to leave the village and Edward was lucky to escape the shelling, but in the retreat he became separated from the regiment for four days before being reunited with them.

He went on to describe being 20 miles from Paris when the new order came again to advance. He described the horrors of war as the regiment drove the Germans back. “It was awful” he said, “The men marched for hours and were only allowed ten minutes' rest. The noise and din during the fighting was terrible”.

Edward and his comrades were in trenches for about four days. He said they suffered terribly, with the rain and the cold. On Tuesday 15th September 1914 they were supported by the guns of the French Artillery, at first the French guns were successful at shelling the Germans with no return of fire. The next day was not so lucky, the Germans returned the shell fire killing 8 French artillery men. The shells smashed into the trenches where the men of the Somerset Light Infantry were, killing an officer and 3 privates, with 10 privates wounded. Edward was among the wounded. He received a shrapnel wound to his foot. In addition, the trench gave way under the shell fire and Edward was buried for four hours before he was dug out. This was 16th September, the battalion only landing in France less than four weeks earlier.  Edward’s description of the last advance to positions along the Aisne reads, "We were led like lambs to the slaughter; it was slaughter, too; we had our work cut out. Fellows were being mowed down right around.”

Injured Edward was first taken to a village convent, then travelled by road and rail to a hospital where he was treated. He was transported to England by ship along with 1200 other men. Here he was taken to Southern General Hospital, University Buildings in Edgbaston, Birmingham before being allowed home to Swansea, returning home just 7 weeks after the start of war.

Newspaper Articles

The above is a summary of two articles in the Swansea papers. Please follow the two links below to The National Library of Wales to read the first-hand accounts of this soldier’s experiences of war. They are moving accounts of life in World War 1, one from a letter written by Edward and one from an interview with a reporter..

Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder 3rd October 1914

The Cambrian Daily Leader 3rd October 1914

Edward Tidridge of Swansea

From census records I believe Edward James Tidridge was the son of Alfred Tidridge and Jane Wakely, although his unconfirmed date of birth was before they were married. According to his military records, he was born in February 1886 in St Mary’s Swansea. However, I have been unable to find any birth record for Edward, with any spelling variation of the surnames Tidridge or Wakely, even allowing for the fact that he may have lied about his age. His brother Alfred Tidridge was born in Swansea in December 1889. The 1891 census records him as Edwards James Tidridge Wakely born in Swansea; the 1901 census records him as Edward Tidridge and future references are under Edward Tidridge. Edward joined the Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery on 23 April 1903 with his age given as 17 years 2 months, service number 2180, rank gunner, previous occupation labourer. On 2 February 1905 he enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry. On the 1911 census he was a Private in the Somerset Light Infantry stationed in Malta.

After these newspaper accounts, written at the start of WW1, no records have been found for Edward (I have searched Tidridge and Wakely and all spelling variations). There is no marriage, no death record and no WW1 medal card, which should have been generated for all soldiers of WW1.

So, what happened to Edward? Did he go back to France with his regiment? Was he invalided out of,  the army? Did he emigrate and that is why there are no further records? Unfortunately, I have no answers to these questions.

If you can provide any further information about Edward, please  get in touch.
email:  titheradgegenealogy@gmail.com