Private William Henry Petherbridge

At the end 19th Century the Petherbridge family can be found living at Frithelstock in the property ‘Tucking Mill’. At that point, 1891, the family was headed up by William (senior), 35, who was born in Beaford and at this time held down employment as a “railway engine driver”. He was married to Julia (maiden name Cowlear), 37, originally from Wembworthy. They were married in the third quarter of 1877 in the Torrington District. The household consisted of their six children, Elizabeth, Bessie, Edith, Edward, John and Gertrude. Judging by the birth places of the children, it is fair to surmise that the family had previously moved a number of times including the villages of Beaford and Merton, before settling in Frithelstock.

However, it would not be until the 1901 census that we would find William in the household, who was born in 1893 and is 7 years old at this point. William had been baptised at Frithelstock on the 17 Sept 1893 by Vicar Jeffrey. The family are still resident at Tucking Mill, but their numbers are fewer. Only Edward, John, Gertrude and now William are resident, as well as the parents. His father is still working on the railways in the capacity of an engine driver, eldest sibling, Edward, also works as a “packer on railway”. I have been sent a picture of his father working on the railways, which I include below.

Moving on to the 1911 census, again, the differences within the family are subtle with the family remaining in the same location and their father in the same employment. Edward’s employment status has evolved to “clay miner”, whilst Gertrude has an occupation as a “dressmaker”. Henry has left school and begun work at the Marland clay works as a “plate layer”.

By August 1914 [1], William was married to local girl, Elsie Ward. Elsie, who was a resident of New Street, had been born in the town in 1891 and now worked as a “fabric gloveress machinist”. Their time together after their marriage would have been short lived as William enlisted soon after at the outbreak of war. He enlisted with the Coldstream Guards in Exeter with the service number 11152 and assigned to the 1st Battalion.

The Coldstream Guards would see action in the earliest battles of the Great War, including the Battle of Mons, where Allied forces took a thumping early defeat and were forced into full retreat from Belgium. As a result, they suffered huge losses within the first six months of engagements. As a new recruit, William undertook his training with the Guards in Caterham and then Windsor. It wouldn’t be until 23rd November that his unit would cross the Channel to join the Expeditionary Force.

The Battle of Givenchy commenced on the 20th December on a section of frontline guarded by the Indian Corps. As well as heavy artillery and mortar bombardment, the troops were subjected to a series of mines that were tunnelled under their lines and detonated. This was followed up by infantry advances through the Allied lines and subsequent gains of territory, including the German forces reaching the town of Givenchy. As a result of the

precarious nature of the line and the fact that the Indian troops were both severely diminished in numbers and exhausted, the decision was made to relieve them with I Corps on 21st December, which would have included William’s unit. Although the battle line had stabilised and the ferocity of the fighting had died down by the following day, Private Petherbridge was killed in action in the trenches on 22nd December 1915, just a few days before Christmas.

William’s older brother, Edward, would also serve and see action with the Coldstream Guards. Indeed, at the time that his death was reported, Edward was receiving treatment in hospital in Scotland for a gunshot wound to the thigh. Edward would eventually be discharged from the military on health grounds and in 1918 received the Silver War Badge.

William’s headstone can be found at Torrington Cemetery, although I am unsure whether his body was ever repatriated, or whether he shares his parents’ headstone as a memorial. Realistically, bearing in mind the logistics involved and the resources available at the time, the likelihood is that his body lies in a battleground in France. As well as the Great Torrington war memorial, his name also appears on the Fritlelstock memorial. His name is also listed on the Le Touret memorial at Pas de Calais, France.

In addition, it has recently been pointed out to me that William's name also appears on a remembrance plaque in the village of Yarnscombe at the local Parish Church. The Petherbridge family have strong links to Yarnscombe and their roots in the parish can be traced back to the middle 1700s. He is also mentioned in the Roll of Honour, which reads "Petherbridge, William Henry Private No 11152 1st Battn Coldstream Guards: served with the Expeditionary Force; killed in action 22 Dec 1914".

In compiling this information, I would like to add my thanks and appreciation for the information provided by Karen Gist, who is a distant relation of Private Petherbridge. As well as details above, Karen also sent me a copy of the inserts from the war diary Coldstream Guard's 1st Battalion in the days leading up to William's death and shortly after. I'm sure you will find this interesting reading:

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards – War Diary Extracts 22 December 1914

On the 21st and 22nd December 1914 the 1st Btn Coldstream guards were deployed along with the Camerons just ahead of them near La Bassee to take a fence close to Rue d'Ouvert. On the 21st/22nd the Coldstream Guards took heavy damage about 200 casualties.

At this time the British line before La Bassee, one of the German strong points of the German front covering Lille, was held by the Indian Corps and on the 20th December 1914 The Germans attacked in great force mainly against the village of Givenchy which commanded all the country to the west. The village was captured although later in the day part to the south and east was recovered and the 1st (Guards) Brigade was ordered south at 5 p.m. on the 20th December marching some 20 miles to Bethune and then at 12 noon on the 21st the Brigade marched East on the Bethune/La Bassee road to the south of the La Bassee Canal, the Cameron Highlanders leading followed by the Coldstream Guards to Pont Fixe, Givenchy. Brigade orders were issued on route to attack Rue d'Ouvert from Pont Fixe, cooperating if possible with 3rd Infantry Brigade on the left. The Guards Brigade attacked at 3 p.m. with the Coldstream Guards and the Cameron Highlanders in the first line. A few shells caused one or two casualties in the village while crossing the Pont Fixe, with this exception the enemy's artillery fire caused no damage. As soon as the attack started the leading companies came under enfilade rifle and machine gun fire but owing to a heavy hailstorm which came on right in the enemy's face, casualties were not heavy. Three Companies occupied the old French trenches on the reverse slope of the spur about 300 yards West of the trenches evacuated by the Indian troops on the 19th December, now held by the Germans. Lieutenant Colonel John Ponsonby established his H.Q. in the end house of Givenchy Village with a Company in trenches nearby. A patrol under 2nd Lieutenant Mills went forward to the end of Givenchy village and reported it clear of the enemy so far as the Church. Attempts were made overnight to straighten up the line and get in touch with the Gloucesters on the left and the Cameron Highlanders on the right but proper touch could not be obtained. Lieutenant Colonel Ponsonby assisted by Captain Daniels 15th Sikhs made a reconnaissance and found a Company of the London Scottish on the left rear of No 2 Company of the Coldstream Guards which were almost immediately withdrawn. At 5.45 a.m. on the 22nd December the three companies in the forward trenches attacked the German trench along the road leading from Givenchy to Chapelle St. Roche took it but being without any support on their flanks they were bombed out of it about 8 a.m. and retired to the North of the ruins of the church in Givenchy having lost over 50% of their strength. With the Scots Guards and the London Scottish holding the remaining parts of Givenchy so began the daily routine of siege warfare in this area of Givenchy. At 9 p.m. on the 22nd December the Battalion was relieved by the Black Watch and marched back to billets in a village south of the canal at Pont Fixe, billets being farm buildings around a dirty midden, the weather being wet and cold. The following day the Battalion moved to Cambrin to Brigade Reserve returning to the Givenchy trenches on the 26th December until the 28th December when the Battalion moved to billets in Bethune.

Finally, I am also pleased to report that I was kindly provided with a photo of the Petherbridge family from a relative. William is to the right at the rear. Again, I am extremely thankful for this information.

[1] North Devon Journal. January 14th 1915. ‘North Devon War Items’.