WOOLDRIDGE, Philip

Philip Wooldridge was born in Lye but might well have been living in London at the start of the war. He volunteered for the Territorials and joined the 1/22nd Battalion of the London Regiment. This unit was part of the 47th (2nd City of London) Division which went to France in April 1915. It was quickly involved in the battle of Festubert and spent the winter of 1915-16 in the Loos salient. It was at Vimy Ridge in the Spring of 1916 and entered the battle of the Somme in September during the long contest for control of High Wood. They relieved the 1st Division in the front line on the 10th and immediately felt the effect of German heavy artillery. Corporal Philip Wooldridge was one of the casualties and was killed in action on the 11th September. He is buried in Flat Iron Copse Cemetery (II G 6) near Mametz and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.