BRIDGES, Henry Renton Nicholson
| Service Number: | 497 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 February 1915, Yea, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 9 August 1873 |
| Home Town: | Yea, Murrindindi, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Unknown |
| Occupation: | Woolpresser |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, Pozieres, France, 9 August 1916, aged 43 years |
| Cemetery: |
Etaples Military Cemetery Plot 1X, Row D, Grave 3, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Yea War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Yea, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 497, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' |
|
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 497, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| 29 Mar 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 497, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 497 awm_unit: 23 Battalion awm_rank: Company Sergeant Major awm_died_date: 1916-08-09 |
News From Our Boys
Sergeant Major H. R; Bridges
We have been handed a copy of a letter received by Mrs Bridges, of Yea, from her husband, Sergeant Major H. R; Bridges, whose death was reported a few weeks ago as the result of wounds received in action:
We take the following extracts from the letter:
"France, July 14. ' I am writing to you this time from where big things are doing and life is uncertain. However, I have every confidence I shall get through all right. Should luck go against me though, I shall have had the honour to die amongst some of the best men that the world has ever produced. But I am not dead yet, so keep - good heart and always remember that if I am not with you, I am always thinking of you and our children. I have had several letters from you lately, but have not had a chance to answer them, and even now I am only able to snatch a few minutes just to scribble a short note, There is little to write about, however, for as you know we are not allowed to write anything about ourselves or our doings, I am glad to tell you that I received that money you so kindly sent. I did not get it until I got back from London, but it came in very handy I can assure you, and I thank you for your thoughtfulness and kindness in sending again. . . I was sorry to hear of Bobs Hansen's death. He was a good chap. It was a pity, for the children's sake, that the people of Yes allowed the Swimming Club to go to the wall. Had I been home things would have been different: But I may be, back there again someday, and if I do I will certainly have something to say to them. If I can get time, I will write to all the children; in the meantime, give them all my love. Remember, me to all old friends. I met Paddy and Ernie Garlich the other day. I did not see Max. but I find he is in the same battalion, so I sent him a message."
Submitted 21 April 2019 by Val Sparnaay
Biography
Henry Renton BRIDGES was born on 9th August 1873 in Brisbane, Queensland
His parents were Henry Edwin BRIDGES and Betsy Murray DENNING
Henry married Beatrice Mary DORGAN in 1901 in Victoria
He enlisted on 17th Feb. 1915 with the Australian Army - he was with the 23rd Battalion, C Company - Unit embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Euripides on 10th May 1915
Henry was promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major (CSM) 23rd Battalion on 29th March 1916
He Died of Wounds at Pozieres, France on 9th August 1916 - he is buried in Estaples Military Cemetery in France aged 42 years. He is also commemorated on the Australian War Memorial - He was awarded the British War Medal
There is a Tribute in the form of a lengthy poem on the following link (trove.nla.gov.au) (trove.nla.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Joan Robinson
His parents were Henry Edwin Bridges and his third wife Betsy Murray Nicholson (widow of John Denning).
Henry Renton Nicholson Bridges died on his 43rd birthday.
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