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Sgt. Morris Levi Ridge DCM.
British Army 231st (North Midland(Brigade), B Battery Royal Field Artillery
from:Hanley, Stoke on Trent
Sgt Levi Ridge started his fighting war on the 7th 0f April 1915. The 2nd Battery 2nd North Midland Brigade (Territorial Forc ) were called forward to relieve the regular Artillery. Their four BLC 15 pounder light field guns replacing six of the more modern 16 pounders.
This journey had begun in August 1914 the Terriers had just arrived at Okehampton for there annual camp when Precautionary orders were put into force, they were loaded back onto the trains for the journey back to Stoke on Trent, and told to report to the drill hall the next day. War declared 1100 4th Aug 1915. The territorial forces were now Mobilised. Local training was carried out and on August 14th the men and equipment started the route march that would see them billeted in Hertfordshire, with range work being carried out on Salisbury Plain. At the end of Feb 1915 they were loaded onto ships in Southampton for the journey to Le Havre. Hazebrouck in Belgium was the home for the most of March within earshot of the front. After the initial contact the battery remained in France for the rest of the war, they received the 16 pounder gun and were uplifted to 6 guns in late 1915. They took part in many of the major operations, Messines Ridge, Ypres salient, Hooge, Hill60, Arras, Hindenburg line, St Quentin Canal and many more.
