254508 Sgt. Harold A. Earridge British Army 2nd Btn. Worcestershire Regiment from:Plumstead Harold Earridge was my Great Grandfather. I was lucky enough to know him during my childhood. He lived on the same road as his daughter, my grandmother, right opposite my school gates where he would wait for me and my big brother to give us fluffy sweets from his pocket.
I knew he'd been in the war as I remember him showing me his medals but had no idea of what that really meant. Strangely my mum doesn't remember seeing them or even going into his house as a child as he appeared to her to be quite distant from the family even though he lived on the same road. Sadly this seems to be a bit of a theme with soldiers of the Great War. Apparently, I went missing as a small child and after frantic searching of the neighbourhood, I was found safe and sound with Great Grandad which came as a total surprise to my grandparents and parents because they didn't know I knew him that well and spent time with him (early 1970's). I was only 4.
I probably knew more about his war than anyone else at that time and maybe since.
Harold was a career soldier who signed up in 1905. In 1911 he was a stationed at Western Heights Dover in 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment which is where he would have met my Great Grandmother Ellen Carter. They married in December 1911.
By the time WW1 began he was with the 2nd Battalion. He is named as having been in Gheluvelt 31st of October 1914 and remained in France and Flanders until the end of the war having seen action in many battles.
My grandmother was born in 1919 and spent part of her childhood in India where her brother, (sadly he died in infancy), and sister were born. This must mean he was back with 3rd Battalion as the
2nd didn't go there when my grandmother told me she was there.
They had 4 daughters and another son. Ellen died in 1935 of TB. Apparently Harold would cycle from Dover to Canterbury to visit her in the sanatorium every week whatever the weather.
He married again to Florence but she passed away from tetanus not long after.
Harold married a third time and had another son at age 57.
Harold never really spoke of his experiences during the war and certainly never complained.
Harold passed away in 1977 having had a long and fruitful life. I remember him extremely fondly and have immense pride in him.
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