The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 6
Five: Sergeant W. Bridges, 1st (The King’s) Dragoon Guards, attached 1st Life Guards, who was present with the Life Guards at the time of their action on Zandvoorde Ridge, 30 October 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (6153 L. Cpl. W. Bridges. 1/
D.Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (1DG-6153 Cpl. W. Bridges. 1-D. Gds.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (19597 Sgt. W. Bridges, 1 K.D. Guards.); Imperial Service Medal,
G.VI.R., 2nd issue (William Bridges) in fitted case of issue, together with related glazed framed Central Chancery forwarding certificate for the last, dated 17 March 1950, nearly extremely fine (5)
£300-£400 I.S.M. London Gazette 17 March 1950: ‘Postman, Higher Grade, London Postal Region.’
William Bridges was born in May 1889 at Camberwell, London and attested for the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards in 1906. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he was recalled from the reserve and attached to the 1st Life Guards, entering France with them at Zeebrugge on 9 October to form part of the 7th Household Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division. Bridges would have been present during the famous action at Zandvoorde Ridge on 30 October, described in the War Diary by Captain the Hon. E. H. Wyndham in the following understated fashion: ‘Zandvoorde - Oct. 30. 6am - Heavy bombardment of position opened. At 7.30am position was attacked by large force of infantry. This attack proved successful owing to greatly superior numbers. Regiment retired in good order about 10am except C Squadron on left flank from which only about 10 men got back. Remainder of Squadron missing.’
A number of reservists from the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards serving with the 1st Life Guards can be identified among those killed at Zandvoorde Ridge on 30 October 1914. Medical records show that Bridges was hospitalised suffering from frostbite on 24 November 1914 and transferred two days later to an Ambulance Train. He was married in Peckham on 21 February 1915, shortly after which the following article (cutting with lot) appeared in a local newspaper: ‘Ypres Hero Married in Peckham - A pretty wedding took place on Sunday at All Saints’ Church, North Peckham, between Trooper W. Bridges, of the 1st Life Guards and Eleanor Maud Bridges of Graylands Rd. Peckham. Both parties are well known in the locality and more than ordinary interest was shown in the event, because of the safe homecoming of the bridegroom, whose remarkable escapes at Ypres were reported in the “South London Press” some weeks ago.’
Bridges advanced to the rank of Sergeant during the war and returned to his parent unit - the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards - which sailed back to India in October 1917. The Regiment was garrisoned at Meerut until October 1918 when it moved to Risalpur. On 2 May 1919 Afghan troops seized control of wells on the Indian side of the border. The Afghan Amir Amanullah was warned to withdraw, but his answer was to send more troops to reinforce those at the wells and to move other Afghan units to various points on the frontier. The 1st King’s Dragoon Guards were mobilised on 6 May and, forming part of the British Indian Army's 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade, served throughout the Third Anglo-Afghan War. They saw action at the Khyber Pass and notably, on 16 May 1919 at Dakka – a village in Afghan territory to the west of the Khyber Pass - where the regiment made one of the last recorded charges by a British horsed cavalry regiment.
Sold with a glazed framed painting of a mounted soldier of the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards, 37cm x 43cm including frame; a framed photograph of the recipient on horseback in sergeant’s uniform, taken in India; an OHMS envelope addressed to the recipient, dated 1942; another envelope addressed to recipient, dated 1939; newspaper cutting regarding the recipient’s wedding in February 1915.
7
Family group:
Three: Private H. Redding, 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays), who was killed in action at the First Battle of Ypres on 5 November 1914
1914 Star (5554 Pte. H. Redding. 2/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (2DG-5554 Pte. H. Redding. 2-D. Gds.) nearly extremely fine
Pair: Gunner A. E. Redding, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was killed in action whilst serving his gun at the Battle of Arras on 16 May 1917
British War and Victory Medals (60163 Gnr. A. E. Redding. R.A.) nearly extremely fine (5) £300-£400
Harry Redding was born in 1884 at Otterbourne, Hampshire and attested for the 2nd Dragoon Guards at Winchester in 1901. Mobilized as part of the 1st Cavalry Division in 1914 following the outbreak of the Great War, he arrived in France on 9 September 1914 and was killed in action on 5 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. He was the son of James and Olive Redding of 7 School Lane, Allbrook, Hampshire and is buried in Wulvergem Churchyard, Belgium.
Albert Edward Redding, brother of the above, was born in 1891 at Otterbourne, Hampshire and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery on 26 October 1915. He served with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front from 17 May 1916 and was killed in action on 16 May 1917 whilst serving with 106 Siege Battery. The National Roll of the Great War states of him, ‘he played a prominent part in numerous engagements. He was in action at the first Battle of the Somme, and during the fighting at Arras was killed whilst serving his gun.’ He is buried in Athies Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Both brothers are named on the Otterbourne and Allbrook War Memorial.
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