PARTRIDGE, Frederick

Fred Partridge was born in Birmingham and was living in Stourbridge at the outbreak of war. He volunteered in 1914 and enlisted in the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Worcesters. This battalion saw service in the Loos area until May 1916 when it moved to the Somme. They were positioned in the centre of the British line opposite La Boisselle and Ovillers, but held in reserve on the first day of the battle. On the 3rd July the battalion was ordered to attack and just after 3 a.m. rushed across no man's land to the German positions in La Boisselle. The village was in complete ruin by this time, but the Germans were defending deep concrete bunkers and in the dark the situation was confused. Only when light came could it be seen that parties of the battalion had reached the other side of the village and that it had been won. The cost was very high, with 9 officers and 44 men killed, 106 missing presumed dead, and 203 wounded. Private Fred Turrall was awarded the Victoria Cross for his remarkable rescue of an injured officer, but Private Frederick Partridge was killed in action. He is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge and St. John's church Memorials.