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Charles Frederick Bridgwood - a remarkable career! 3 years 2 months ago #82270
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Charles Frederick Bridgwood
Corporal, 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment – Anglo Boer War Serjeant Major, 5th Infantry (Kaffrarian Rifles) and Captain, 5th Reserve Battalion, Royal Fusiliers – WWI Sergeant Major Instructor (Permanent Force) – Prince Alfred’s Guard Captain, “Q” Services, Eastern Province Command – WWII - Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony; Wittebergen; Natal; Wepener; Diamond Hill and Johannesburg to 5283 CPL. F. BRIDGWOOD, S STAFFORD REGT. (entitled to CC/Witt/TVL only) - Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 5283 CORPL. C.J. BRIDGWOOD, S STAFFORD REGT. - 1914/15 Star to SJT. MJR. C.F. BRIDGWOOD, 5TH INFANTRY - British War Medal to CAPT. C.F. BRIDGWOOD (Issued by the Imperial Authorities as per the M.I.C.) - Victory Medal to 1ST C/W.O. C.F. BRIDGWOOD, P.F. STAFF - War Medal 1939/45 to 85917 C.F. BRIDGWOOD - Africa Service Medal to 85917 C.F. BRIDGWOOD - Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal to SJT. MJR. INSTR. C.F. BRIDGWOOD, PERM. FORCE (STAFF) - Meritorious Service Medal to 1005 S.M.I. C.F. BRIDGWOOD, SAIC. The story of Charles Bridgwood is the story of a man who came out to South Africa with his regiment to fight the Boers and then, after the conclusion of hostilities, elected to remain in the country. Many have the same story to tell – the difference with Charles Bridgwood is that they didn’t have a career spanning some 40 years in uniform. Born in Stafford, Staffordshire on 18 August 1879, he was the son of John Bridgwood, a Butcher by trade and his wife Anne. According to the 1881 England census, our first encounter with Charles, he was a 1 year old living with his parents at 29 Weston Road, Stafford. He wasn’t the only child, being joined by 2 month old Edith and 3 year old Arthur. Bridgwood senior was an early starter having fathered his first child at the age of 17. 
Bridgwood in 1938 Ten years later, when the 1891 census came round, the family had moved to 6 St. Chad’s Passage in Stafford. Of Arthur there was no sign, leaving a 10 year old Charles the oldest child in the home. He was joined by 9 year old Edith and the only new addition to the family – 8 year old Beatrice. The pater familias was now employed as a Coachman and sometime Groom. At some point in his teenage years, Charles, like so many of his Victorian working-class compatriots, decided to enlist with the Colours. Decent employment for working class men was hard to come by and the army, as a career, was oftentimes the answer. Having finished a rudimentary school education, Bridgwood had initially found employment as a Striker but, believing this to be unsustainable in the long-term, he completed attestation papers at Lichfield on 18 February 1898 for Short Service (7 years with the Colours and 5 in the Reserve). Confirming that he was 18 years and 6 months old, he indicated a preference for the South Staffordshire Regiment. Physically he was a diminutive 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighed 115 pounds and had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and dark brown hair. Having been pronounced Fit for the Army, he was assigned number 5283 and the rank of Private. After 3 months at the Depot, he was posted to the 1st Battalion on 22 May 1898. Home service ended on 12 November 1899 with a posting to Gibraltar where, two weeks later, on 28 November, he was informed that he had passed the professional examination for elevation to Corporal rank. It was shortly before Bridgwood was stationed on “The Rock” that the world around him erupted into turmoil – the Anglo Boer War – a conflict between the two Dutch-speaking Republics of the Orange Free State and Transvaal and Great Britain – had broken out on 11 October 1899. Initially his regiment took no part in the conflict but, with the advent of “Black Week” – a perfect trifecta of Imperial reverses that took place in the month of December 1899, it was decided that additional manpower and weaponry must be sent, expeditiously, to South Africa to combat what had been an underestimated Boer fighting capability. To this end, and to meet the demand, Bridgwood and his comrades, having been returned to England for a short spell, set sail for South Africa aboard the Aurania on 18th March 1900, docking at the Cape on about 9th April. Along with the 1st Worcestershire, 2nd Royal West Kent, and 2nd Manchester, they formed the 17th Brigade under Major General Boyes and part of the VIIIth Division under General Sir Leslie Rundle. The division arrived while Lord Roberts was still in Bloemfontein, but worried by the raids which the enemy had made with success at Sannah's Post and Reddersburg. Wepener was still blockaded, and the division was accordingly railed to the Springfontein-Edenburg district, and immediately took the field at Oorlogspoort and Dewetsdorp. There was no severe fighting. The enemy held strong positions about the latter place; but the force employed was overwhelming, and the Boers retreated from these and from the neighbourhood of Wepener, which was relieved on 24th April. It is entirely possible that Bridgwood, who sported the Wepener clasp on his Queens Medal was present at the relief of Wepener – something for which no clasp was awarded and one to which he likely felt entitled. The division then followed General French to Thabanchu, which they occupied on 28th April, a few days before Lord Roberts commenced his northern advance on Pretoria. The division now followed Ian Hamilton, who commanded the army of the right flank, and Colville, but rather to their right rear. Hence, they were generally a long distance from the railway; and as the British forces had still great scruples about commandeering, and transport was ill to get, Sir Leslie Rundle's division was soon known all over the world as "the starving VIIIth". The work they had to do from now till the end of the campaign was not of the glory-begetting sort, but they did it faithfully with a minimum of grumbling. General Rundle did not remain long at rest at Thabanchu. A few days after his arrival there he commenced to spread out his division so as to hold the country on Lord Roberts' right rear. On 15th May Quetling's Nek and the Modder Poort were occupied, then ClocoIan and Ladybrand. On the 26th he occupied Senekal, and on the 28th he received a message from Colonel Spragge that his battalion of Yeomanry were hard pressed at Lindley. It is well to recall the general position at this time. Lord Roberts, with two divisions and a large force of cavalry and artillery, had moved up the railway to the Vaal. Ian Hamilton, with a division and a brigade of cavalry, had accompanied him on his right flank via Lindley and Heilbron. Colville, with a brigade and less than 100 mounted men, had followed Hamilton, and found it difficult to pass out of Lindley. Spragge, with 500 Yeomanry, had moved from the railway to Lindley to join Colville; but the latter had left, and when he got Spragge's call for help, had found himself unable to give it. As regards the enemy, the whole fighting force of the Free State was massed in the Senekal-Lindley-Bethlehem district. South and west of these points the country was practically free from Boers. South-east of Senekal they were, however, stoutly opposing Rundle's right. Lord Roberts stated: "General Rundle could not go to Spragge's relief, as he had been called on to support Brigadier General Brabant in the direction of Hammonia, nor could he leave Senekal until the arrival of Major General Clements, who with a portion of his brigade was proceeding to that place from Winburg. Under the impression, however, that he might indirectly relieve the hostile pressure on Lieutenant Colonel Spragge's detachment, General Rundle, with a force of six companies of Yeomanry, two field batteries, Major General Campbell's brigade, and the 2nd Royal West Kent Regiment, moved out four miles on the Bethlehem road and encountered the enemy, who were in considerable strength, at Kuring Kraus. After an engagement (generally known as the battle of Biddulphsberg) which had no decisive result, General Rundle fell back on Senekal, his casualties amounting to 30 killed and 150 wounded". A week after this battle was fought Lord Roberts occupied Pretoria and having by the action at Diamond Hill (11th and 12th June) driven the enemy back from the east of the capital, he at once commenced a series of operations with the view of surrounding the Boer forces in the north-east angle of the Orange River Colony. A strong column under Sir A Hunter was sent via Heidelberg and Frankfort towards Bethlehem. Clements and Paget moved towards, and after stiff fighting occupied, Bethlehem on the 7th July. Rundle's division, also placed under the general direction of Sir A Hunter, occupied a line from Biddulphsberg to Ficksburg, ready to move inwards — i.e., north — at the same time preventing the enemy from breaking south. The entrances to the Brandwater basin at Slabbert's Nek, Retief Nek, and Golden Gate having all, after severe fighting, been secured, Hunter and Rundle moved on Fouriesburg, whither Prinsloo and over 4000 Boers had retired. Driscoll's Scouts of the VIIIth Division, after a forced march of twenty-five miles from Commando Nek, boldly entered the town on 26th July, other troops followed, and Sir Archibald Hunter himself arrived on the scene. The enemy had meanwhile retired in a north-easterly direction to Golden Gate, where Macdonald was in command. General Hunter followed on the 28th, and on the 30th Prinsloo and over 4000 men surrendered. Thereafter the VIIIth Division provided garrisons for Senekal, Bethlehem, Fouriesburg, Ladybrand, and Thabanchu. Until the close of the campaign the division, with the South Staffs as part of it, remained in this district, which, from its mountain fastnesses and fertile valleys, was the chief stronghold of the enemy in the Free State. On 26th October 1900 Rundle, moving from Bethlehem to Harrismith, had stiff fighting with a strong force of Boers who held hills commanding the road. The troops engaged that day were the 2nd Grenadiers, 2nd Scots Guards, and Hampshire and Gloucestershire companies of the Imperial Yeomanry. The position was cleared "in spite of a very stubborn resistance", Rundle's losses being 3 killed and 20 wounded. During the two years and one month, commencing 20th April 1900, some part of the division was almost daily engaged. They had no great battle, but unceasing hard work and constant need for watchfulness. It is to their credit that they had no disasters or surrenders. At Tweefontein (25th December 1901) the disaster took place in Rundle's district, but the garrison was mainly Yeomanry. In dealing with that affair Lord Kitchener hinted that there had not been sufficient watchfulness. It would be tedious, indeed impossible, to recount the innumerable moves made, and little actions fought, by Rundle's troops. Some of the battalions were always on garrison duty, and others trekking with columns to denude the country of supplies, to take convoys to the garrisons and to the mounted columns, and to capture commandos, while blockhouse-building also occupied a great part of their energies between August 1901 and the close of the campaign. For his efforts in the Boer War, Bridgwood was awarded the Queens Medal, along with the Kings Medal. Apart from the self-awarded Wepener clasp – he also felt the need to embellish a perfectly serviceable war record with the addition of Natal, Diamond Hill and Johannesburg clasps – to none of which he was entitled. Peace was declared on 31 May 1902 which meant that the war was over, but the South Staffs. were kept on in South Africa until they sailed for India on 24 April 1904. This lull in activity also provided Bridgwood the opportunity to further his career, with promotion to Corporal coming on 29 January 1901, followed by elevation to Lance Sergeant’s rank on 1 October 1902 and to Sergeant on 29 January 1904. He had been posted to the 2nd Battalion on 25 April 1902. It was while stationed at Agra on 15 March 1904 (strangely enough as his record indicates that he was still underway to India), that Bridgwood tied the marital knot in what can only be described as the culmination of a whirlwind romance. It is not known whether or not he was acquainted with Annie Nosworthy Downing before arriving in India. The union was an immediately productive one - Frederick John Brigwood was born to the couple on 7 December 1904. Having spent just over five years in India, Bridgwood and his family were posted back to South Africa on 29 November 1907, and it was here, in Pretoria, that he took his final discharge, after serving 12 years 242 days with the Colours, on 15 October 1910. Having decided to remain in South Africa, he didn’t languish in Pretoria for long, making his way, as part of the Permanent Force Establishment, to East London on the east coast of South Africa where he was assigned the position of Regimental Sergeant Major to the 5thInfantry (Kaffrarian Rifles). Hardly a thought would have been spared for the prospect of another war so soon after the last but, on 4 August 1914, the world woke up to the news that war, on a truly global scale, had erupted on the world stage. Britain and her allies found themselves at war, not with the Boer Republics of 12 years before, but with the might of Imperial Germany and her allies. Initially, South Africa was destined to play no part in this but, after a request from the British Government was received by Prime Minister Botha to intervene in German South West Africa and neutralise the enemy’s communication capability there, South Africa went to war at England’s side. Unlikely bedfellows after having been at each other’s throats 12 years before. Already in uniform and part of the organisational structure, Bridgwood volunteered his services on 25 August 1914 and commenced, with his regiment, to depart for German South West Africa. In what was to become known as the Hex River train disaster, they almost never made it. A troop train travelling to Cape Town via De Aar junction from East London, lost control going down the inhospitable Hex River Valley Pass after the rear locomotive had been detached at Matroosberg Station. The remaining single locomotive at the head of the train was unable to brake adequately on the descent and derailed as it rounded a bend. The coaches telescoped into one another with several leaving the rails and hurtling down a sharp decline. Accounts vary but 9 troops were killed and 103 injured, to varying degrees. They were transported to hospitals at nearby Worcester and Touws River. Having safely negotiated their way around this incident, the regiment, on September 29, 1914 embarked in the Armadale Castle for German South West Africa, and arriving at Luderitz on October 1, formed part of the Central Force, 2nd Infantry Brigade of Brigadier General Sir Duncan Mackenzie's Division, together with the Kimberley Regiment. At, Koeman's Kop, the battalion occupied the advance position of the Brigade, a distinction maintained until the conclusion of active operations, which culminated in the attack upon Aus on March 31, 1915. The whole campaign was fast-moving and was essentially a mounted infantryman's war. The Kaffrarian Rifles experienced considerable hardships in this desert campaign. Among important works undertaken by the battalion was the re-construction of the railway line between Aus and the base, destroyed by the enemy in his retirement. With the assault upon Aus, in which the battalion sustained one casualty (Rfn. Wattmore, killed) the operations of the division ceased and the Regiment embarked for home in the City of Athens, arriving at East London on May 31, 1915. Upon demobilisation a vast majority of the battalion's personnel enlisted in overseas units for service in France or proceeded later to German East Africa. 
Bridgwood, who had provided his address as the Langham Hotel in East London, passed the remainder of his time in German South West Africa on the Staff of the No.3 Military District until he was repatriated to South Africa on the conclusion of hostilities in that theatre – 9 July 1915. Being placed on the Permanent Subordinate Instructional Staff, he was moved to duty at the South African Expeditionary Force Training Camp at Potchefstroom on 6 August 1915 with the rank of Sergeant Major Instructor. On 27 November 1915 he was attached to the 2ndS.A. Infantry Brigade and, on 1 March 1916 he was posted to their Depot Company. The cantons at Potchefstroom were, at this time, the gathering place for all South African troops earmarked for service in the Western European theatre. It was here that raw recruits and old hands alike, were put through their paces and instructed in the rudimentary skills of warfare. Bridgwood would have had little spare time on his hands as his subordinates and himself began the process of moulding these men into soldiers, fit to hold their own against the Germans. After a whirlwind of transfers, he was appointed Camp Sergeant Major on 20 July 1917 and then appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant for duty with the Cape Corps Depot at Kimberley on 8 November 1917. This coincided with his appointment as Camp Adjutant, a role he performed so admirably that he was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain (without pay) with effect from 15 April 1918. His wife had accompanied him to Kimberley where their address had been 7 Spencer Lane. This arrangement ended when he was ordered to proceed to Roberts Heights on 23 June 1918. Here he was struck off the strength on appointment for service overseas. For Bridgwood the time had come, either as a result of his own request or at the behest of the military hierarchy, he was posted to the Service Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 19 August 1918. After a frustrating delay, he embarked aboard His Majesty’s Transport “Willochia” at Cape Town on 6 September 1918, destined for England. Arriving in the United Kingdom, Bridgwood was attached to the 5th Reserve Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and didn’t make it over the English Channel to the slaughter fields of France and Flanders before the cessation of hostilities on 11 November 1918. He was, once more, elevated to the rank of Temporary Captain but reverted to that of Lieutenant when released from service on 7 August 1919. His address, whilst in England, had been c/o the South African Officers Club, 48 Grosvenor Square, London. An interesting note in his file reads as follows: ‘Inform Command that he has been transferred from South African Defence Force and may require some suitable instruction in modern European warfare before being made available as a reinforcement.” Back in South Africa, Bridgwood resumed his Permanent Force career. After a short hiatus he was posted to Port Elizabeth where he was attached to the Prince Alfred’s Guard Regiment as a Sergeant Major Instructor. This was now a time of peace and the need for an expensive and large Permanent Army was deemed unnecessary. The P.A.G. Regimental History provides some insight into the years after the world had returned to some sort of normality. On pages 162 and 169 mention is made of a planned Military Pageant that was to embody the complete history of the Regiment. This was to include 1500 different performers, the preparation of which took nine months. Bridgwood was singled out as one of the main organisers. Episode X – Torchlight Tattoo by the Marist Brothers Cadet Corps – was especially arranged by him. On page 187 of a chapter entitled ‘The Great Peace’, it was stated that, “For some years now S.M.I. F. Bridgwood has been attached from the South African Instructional Corps (Permanent Force) and was regarded by both officers and men as a kind of fairy godmother to the regiment. No matter what the troubles and difficulties were, to S.M.I. Bridgwood they were never insurmountable, he was a rock of strength at all times. With years of service behind him – he was one of the senior warrant officers of the Union Defence Forces, and a commissioned officer during the Great War – his ever ready fount of military knowledge and earnest sympathy, were always at the disposal of any member of the regiment. He was one of the last of the old Imperial Brigade and much of the successful administration of the regiment was due to his careful guidance. The Cadet detachments of the City High Schools, too, owed their high state of efficiency to his thorough training.” But Bridgwood was “getting on” in years. Page 196 of the same book mentions that the 1936 Armistice Day celebrations in East London was attended by the battalion who made a striking impression by their fine marching and ceremonial drill. “Sergeant Major Bridgwood had just retired from the Permanent Force but the regiment felt it could ill-afford to lose his services, so he was welcomed as Quartermaster with the rank of Lieutenant with effect from 1 September 1936.” A year prior to the above, on 15 February 1935, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to ex-1005 Sergeant Major Instructor Charles Frederick Brigwood had been approved. A rare inter-war award. 
Life continued for Bridgwood, happy in the knowledge that he was still useful in uniform. His equanimity, indeed the equanimity of the entire world was, however, about to be shattered. The peace which had lasted all of twenty years suddenly evaporated. Germany, under Adolf Hitler, went on the rampage in Europe in August 1939, igniting the Second World War. Once more South Africa, as part of the Commonwealth of Nations, was called upon to do her duty and, once more she responded in the affirmative. As was the case during the Great War, there were pockets of opposition to South Africa fighting alongside the British but these were soon dealt with, clearing the way for her full participation. Bridgwood, now a relatively sprightly 60 year old, lost no time in attesting for service at East Province Command in Port Elizabeth on 23 October 1939. Assigned no. 85917 and the rank of Lieutenant with “Q” Services he was soon promoted to Captain (paid) on 12 December 1940. The address he provided was 4 Clifton Mansions, Hope Street, Port Elizabeth. Already at the age limit for service, three years were to pass before the authorities realised their error and released him from service on 31 December 1942. He applied for his War and Africa Service Medals from his new address – “Devonia,” Queen Street, Adelaide, Cape Province – they were posted to him 27 March 1953. The curtain on an exemplary military career had now come down for the last time. Bridgwood edged into retirement. At some point he departed from his beloved Eastern Cape and moved to Johannesburg – it was here, whilst resident at 9 Gafco Court, Third Avenue, Florida, that he passed away on 9 September 1964 at the age of 85, survived by his wife, Annie and their only child, Frederick John Brigwood. A life well lived in the service of his country and his fellow man. 
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Charles Frederick Bridgwood - a remarkable career! 3 years 2 months ago #82288
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Charles Frederick Bridgwood - a remarkable career! 3 years 2 months ago #82302
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