Eric Macuen Kirkbride

3/10/1941: Mansfield Dispatch Rider's Death. After Having Leg Amputated.
Pte Eric Kirkbride, 32, of Berry Hill Road, Mansfield stationed in the south of England as a dispatch rider sustained severe injuries in an accident whilst on duty and died after an attempt had been made to save his life by amputation of his leg.
A married man with one child he was employed in civil life in the Mansfield tailoring business of Messrs G Marchant and Sons. He was a well known member of the local Congregational Church.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 10/10/1941: Mansfield Dispatch Rider's Death: Tragic Happening While on Service.
A wide circle of friends received with deepest regrets the news of the tragic death of Mr Eric Kirkbride whose home was at 107 Berry Hill Road, Mansfield. A dispatch rider in the Royal Corps of Signals who was stationed in Wiltshire. He met with an accident while motorcycling in the discharge of his duty. His injuries were of a very serious character and a leg was amputated in the hope of saving his life but he died on Wednesday last week.
Before joining the army 18 months ago he was employed by Messrs G Marchant & Sons (tailor)of Leeming Street, mansfield. The Congrgational Church has lost a devoted member and a deacon. He was aged 32 and leaves a widow and one child. His brother, Ken, is serving has a dispatch rider in the Royal Corps of Signals in the Middle East.
In a brief address the Rev Rpbert Brown expressed sy,pathy with those who mourned the passing of a loved one.
"He enriched them by his happy personality and gave unstinting in any service he undertook. When the call of military service came he answered gladly concealing the real cost of seperation from his wife, his child and his home. A man of downright honesty, he was rigourous with himself, over riding his own sensitivness for what he believed was his duty"

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 26/12/1941. Mansfield Man Reported Missing.
L/cpl Kenneth J Kirkbride, 28, son of Mr 7 Mrs J Kirkbride of 44 King Edward Ave, Mansfield is reported missing in the Middle East. He had come through the evacuation of Dunkirk. He was despatch rider with the Royal Corps of Signals. His older brother, Eric, also a despatch rider had been fatally injured last October on service duty.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser 23/1/1942:
L/cpl Kirkbride who was reported missing in the Middle East is now stated to be safe.
He was a Prisoner of War in Bardia but has recently been released.

Kenneth survived the war only dying in 1995.

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