BLADEN, Edward G

Edward Bladen was the son of Edward and Martha Bladen of Montreal, Canada and was married to Gladys Bladen of 4 Grange Street, Coseley. He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 3rd Battalion. This battalion suffered severely in the German Spring offensives of 1918 and was driven back in both the April attack in Flanders and the May attack on the Aisne. While reorganising on the Aisne after the April battle they were caught by another German attack. On the 20th May they were in the village of Lh?ry alongside the 10th Worcesters and were faced by waves of fresh German troops. Attacked from the flank as well as the front they were seriously outnumbered and fell back. As they retreated across the bare ridge behind the village, they were exposed to heavy enemy artillery and lost heavily. They were reorganized yet again in July and absorbed the 10th Battalion. They became part of the forces gathering for what became the Advance to Victory but in August there was little front line duty. Neverthless, fighting continued and Private Edward Bladen was killed on the 16th August. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Sandpits British Cemetery, Fouquereuil (IV C 7) near Bethune and is commemorated on the Dudley Memorial.