Regiment: 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Service No: G/13883
Date & place of birth: 1877 in Bournemouth
Date & place of death: 13 April 1918 (aged 40/41) in northern France
Walter Frank Bridle’s own links with Lodsworth are unclear, although his widow subsequently lived in the village up to her death in 1957. Walter was born in Bournemouth and lived in Christchurch, Islington and Midhurst. He worked as a stonemason before his service in World War 1.
Family background
Walter Frank Bridle was born in Bournemouth in 1877, the son of William Bridle, a smith from Wareham, and his wife Sarah.
In 1891 the family was living in Victoria Road, Christchurch, Hants and Walter was employed as a plumber’s boy.
Walter married Alice Leah Mullins in 1899 in Christchurch RD. In 1901 Frank and Alice were living in Islington and in 1911 in Station Road, Midhurst. They had no children. Walter was a stonemason.
Military service
Walter enlisted in Chichester as Private G/13883 in the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, part of the Army’s 12th Division. His service number suggests this was in August 1916.
His battalion fought in the Battle of Le Transloy in October 1916. During 1917 they fought in the First Battle of the Scarpe, the Battle of Arleux, the Third Battle of the Scarpe and the Cambrai operations.
Death and commemoration
Walter was killed on 13 April 1918, probably in the 1918 Battle of the Ancre.
He is buried in grave: XV.O.6 in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas-de-Calais and is commemorated on the Lodsworth war memorial.
Subsequent family history
Walter’s widow Alice lived in School Lane, Lodsworth. She died in 1957 aged 79 and was buried in St Peter’s cemetery.