PARTRIDGE, Arthur

Arthur Partridge came from a family of five brothers who lived in Field Lane, Oldswinford. He attended Oldswinford C of E School and was then employed at Palfrey's skin works in Stourbridge. He was married with three children and had moved into 6 Angel Street by 1914. He and all his brothers enlisted in the army. Later his widow and children moved to Prospect Row in Heath Lane. He enlisted, probably in 1916, in the 4th Battalion of the Worcesters. He was transferred to the 2nd Hampshires in the same 29th Division as the 4th Worcesters, probably after returning to the front line from injury. In the course of 1917 the Division was involved in the Battles of Arras, Third Ypres and Cambrai. The winter was spent back at Passchendaele, the village they had helped to win during the final advance of Third Ypres. In the devastating German offensive of March 1918, all was quiet in Flanders, but, when the second German assault opened on the Lys on 9th April, the Hampshires were sent to support the badly weakened units of the neighbouring Divisions. By the next day they reached Bailleul to find general confusion, but formed a defensive line at La Creche. The Hampshires were in the front line on the 11th and Private Arthur Partridge was killed in action. He was 33 years of age and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford school Memorials. His name is not on the Stourbridge Memorial, possibly because his wife moved to Smallheath after the war.