BRIDGE, George F.R

George Bridge was born in June 1890 to Samuel and Eliza Bridge of 'The Grove', Lye. His father was the headmaster of the nearby Orchard Lane Board School (Valley Road School). George Bridge attended the school and in 1903 entered King Edward's School, Stourbridge. He left in 1904 for Birmingham Central School and when war came in 1914 he volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and joined the 1/8th Battalion. During training he suffered from rheumatism and was in hospital for a time. He applied for a commission in 1917 and was trained at Catterick. By October 1917 he had been gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the 2/7th Battalion and joined his battalion on the Arras front. They were on the front line at Greenland Hill and were involved in several successful raids on the enemy trenches. The battle of Cambrai started on the 20th November and the Worcesters were called forward to meet the strong German counter-attack of the 30th. A fierce struggle with many casualties took place at La Vacquerie but eventually the German forces were halted. The 2/7th was disbanded in January 1918 after its heavy losses and George Bridge was transferred to the 2/8th who were in the front line facing the Hindenburg Line at St Quentin. When the first German Spring offensive opened on the 21st March, they were directly under the Bruckmuller barrage and were overwhelmed. Nine officers were killed and nine were captured. Second Lieutenant George Bridge was seriously wounded and taken to a military hospital at Aire where he died on the 15th April. He is buried in Aire Cemetery (II D 4) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, Memorials. His military records show that his effects were given to his fiancée, Miss Mabel Tallis, of Pedmore Road, Lye.