Walter David Francis Kerridge

Personal Information
Date of Birth	31 Mar 1898
Place of Birth	Frinton-on-sea, Essex, England
Death	12 Apr 1956, aged 58
Place of Death	East Victoria Park, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 4 months
Description	5'6¾" (1.70m) tall; weight 134 lbs (60.8 kg); fair complexion, brown eyes, brown hair
Occupation	orchard hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	'St Ives Cottage', Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Walter David Kerridge
Military Information
Reg Number	2696
Date of Enlistment	13 Aug 1915
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement transfers initially to 51st Battalion; then to 4th Field Ambulance.
Date of Embarkation	1 Nov 1915 - 26 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	SS Bremen
Ship Returned On	23 May 1919 - 4 Jun 1919
Fate	Wounded in Action 14/16 Aug 1916 at Mouquet Farm, Poziéres, France
Monument	Armadale )Armadale panel)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

After two months initial training, Walter was allocated to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and he travelled to Egypt with them.

After several months of training in Egypt, he was transferred to the 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir as it was forming. At the end of March the battalion marched to Serapeum on the Suez Canal over several nights where their training continued until 4 Jun 1916 when they entrained for Alexandria. Sailed from Alexandria to Marseilles on HMT Ivernia from 5 Jun to 11 Jun 1916.

On arrival they were moved by train to Caestre, a journey of two days, and then marched to Sailly where they acclimatised themselves before entering the front lines for the first time in the Petillon Sector on 26 Jun 1916. On 12 Aug 1916 the battalion prepared to move into the front line east and north of Pozières, preparatory to continuing the attack on Mouquet Farm. Walter was injured with a bullet wound to his left wrist at Mouquet Farm, and embarked on HMHS Brighton in Calais for England on 21 Aug 1916, and admitted to 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester, before convalescing in Weymouth depots.

Proceeded to France again on HMT Invicta from Folkestone on 8 Feb 1917, but within a month the old wound required him to again be evacuated to England, this time on HMHS Deippe from Calais.

He was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital in Norwich on 15 Mar 1917 before again being discharged to Weymouth on 14 Apr 1917. On 20 Jun 1917 he was transferred to staff of the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, and on 28 Nov 1917 he entered France for a third time as a member of the 4th Australian Field Ambulance.

Sick again in March 1918, he spent a week in hospital, and then remained in France until 31 Mar 1919.

Discharged 24 Oct 1919 at 5th Military District.

"Enlisted 6th August, 1915, and sailed with the 6th Reinforcements of the 28th Battalion on 2nd November, 1915. He went to Egypt, and afterwards with the 51st to France, where he was wounded at the Battle of Pozieres. He was treated at the Manchester Hospital, and is at present convalescent in Weymouth."

Later William Butcher wrote to his mother about Walter Kerridge,

"...got a bit of a wound in the hand, but nothing serious while out helping to get in a wounded man. He's a game young kid. he knew the Germans wouldn't recognise the white flag, but he went out on chance and they peppered into him. He was lucky in getting hit only once and that in the hand"

Sunday Times 15 October 1916 edition noted that his health status had changed from wounded to wounded, severely.

Post War

1924 married Doris Florence Skinner in the Canning district. Doris died 23 Nov 1978 in Mt Lawley aged 76.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 a farmer in Armadale along with his father of the same name; 1931 - 43, Sixth road, Armadale, a quarryman; 1943 - 49 soldier at 80 Canterbury terrace, Victoria Park; 1954 a wicker worker (badly injured in WW2?). Doris remained until 1963 when Glenys Mae (cap maker) is also at 80 Canterbury terrace; 1972 Doris is in Flat 8, Cone place, Menora; 1977 - 1978, she is in 72/8 Bradford street Manora.

Walter served during WW2 with Citizen Military Forces W243302