BRIDGENS, Sidney

Sidney Bridgens was the son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Bridgens of 69 Enville Street, Stourbridge, and was a member of the St. Thomas's Young Men's Bible Class. In November 1914 he enlisted in the Worcesters and became a machine gunner. In 1916 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was posted to the 73rd Company in the 24th Division. They came into the front line for the Battle of the Somme when the advance had reached the critical stage at Delville Wood. The Division sustained serious losses and Private Sidney Bridgens was killed in action on the 17th August. His comrades erected a cross where he was buried near Gillemont but it must have been lost in later fighting. He is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge and St. Thomas's church Memorials.