Walter William Briddock
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Walter William was born in Radford in 1895 (O/N/D Nottingham) and was the son of Walter and Elizabeth Briddock née Pears of 12 Grundy Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham. His father was born in 1873 in Attercliffe, Sheffield, and his mother Elizabeth Pears was born in 1873 in Cotgrave. They were married in 1894; their marriage was recorded in the Bingham Registration district. They had another son, Harold Edgar, who was born in 1903 in Nottingham. At the time of the 1901 Census Walter (28), a laundry engineer, and Elizabeth (28) were living at 11 Cecil Street, Nottingham, in the parish of Lenton Holy Trinity. In the 1911 census the family are living at 12 Grundy Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, and were shown as Walter 38 yrs a brewery drayman; he is living with his wife Elizabeth 38 yrs and their two children, Walter William 15 yrs a lace packer and Harold Edgar a scholar. Walter's younger brother Harold died three years later on 30 June 1914; he was 11 years old. Walter William married his wife Ada Wilson in 1918 (J/A/S Nottingham) in Nottingham. She was to die on 30th October 1918, a fortnight after Walter's death; she was only 21 yrs of age. Elizabeth Briddock died in September 1945 aged 72 and her husband at the age of 75 in 1948 (buried 2 December).
Lance Sergeant Walter William Briddock enlisted at Nottingham and initially served with the service number 37520 in the North Staffordshire Regiment. He later transferred to the 6th battalion King's Own Scottish Borders. He was killed in action on 16th October 1918 and is buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Inscription on family gravestone (damaged), Basford Cemetery, Nottingham: 'In loving memory of Harold Edgar beloved son of W and E Briddock. Whom Jesus numbered with his lambs. June (-) 1914. In his (-) year. Sleeping. Also of Sergt. Walter William only brother of the above killed in action in France, Octr. 16th 1918 aged 25 years. Thee O Lord have our all. Also Elizabeth mother of the above died Sep (-) 1945 aged 72 years. And her husband Walter Briddock died (-) 23rd 1948 aged 75 years.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 2 July 1914 (also 1 July): ‘Briddock. On June 30th at the Isolation Hospital, Harold Edgar, the dearly beloved and younger son of Walter and Elizabeth Briddock, of 12, Grundy-street, in his 12th year, after much suffering patiently borne. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Internment Saturday, Basford, 3 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 6 July 1914 and also 7 July 1914: ‘Mr and Mrs Briddock and son, 12, Grundy-street, desire to express deepest thanks to their numerous friends for the great kindness shown in their sad bereavement, also for the splendid floral tributes. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post: ‘In Memoriam’, 30 June 1915: ‘Briddock. In sweet and tender memory of our dear boy, Harold Edgar, whom Jesus numbered with his lambs June 30th, 1914, in his 12th year. It is sweet to know we’ll meet again where partings are no more, and that our boy we loved so well has only gone before. Father, mother, and brother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) An 'In Memoriam' notice was published in the Nottingham Evening Post the following year in the name of his parents and brother; there were no further notices after 1916. His widow, Ada, died on 30th October 1918, a fortnight after Walter's death. Notice published 30th October 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BRIDDOCK. – In loving memory of our dear sister, Ada, died October 30, 1918, aged 21; also of her loving husband, Sergt. Briddock, aged 23, killed in action October 16th, 1918. Their loving voices, their smiling faces, never on earth can be replaced. – From Annie, Harry, niece Barbara.” Following notice was published on 6rh November 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BRIDDOCK. – Fell in action October 16th, 1918, Sergt. Walter William Briddock, King's Own Scottish Borderers, the dearly loved and only child of Walter and Elizabeth Briddock, 12 Grundy-street, aged 23. It's Thou that called me to resign, what most I prize, it ne'er was mine; we only yield Thee what is Thine. Thy will be done. Reunited with his dear wife, died October 30th, 1918. – Sorrowing mother and father and grandma.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His legatee was his deceased wife's father, George Wilson. The record is annotated 'Will cancelled' and given that Walter married only a few months before his death it suggests that he had made a will in favour of his previous next of kin, probably his parents, and did not make another after his marriage. If his widow had not made a will then her next of kin would have been her father.
