My name is Henry Bidgood but my family call me Harry. I was born in Westminster, London in 1894. My parents were Henry Robert and Elizabeth. In 1901 we were living at 6, Orsett Street, Lambeth, and my father was a postman. Ten years later we had left London behind and we were now living at 39, Collins Row, High Wycombe. My father had retired and I at 17, had found employment in mineral waters. My brothers and sisters who were still living at home were all younger than me. They were George aged 14yrs, Daisy aged 11yrs, Dorothy aged 4yrs and Joseph aged 2yrs.
In 1918 my parents address was 7, Baker Street, High Wycombe but of course I had left home by then.
I joined the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, a Territorial Battalion which saw action in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine in WW1. We were known as the “yellow devils”. The Battalion took part in the 1st and 2nd Battles of Gaza in March and April 1917 which unfortunately resulted in many casualties. Due to illness or injury I was regarded as unsuitable for front line service and was later transferred to the 437 Labour Company. The Labour Corps grew to almost 389,900 men with almost 175,000 working in the UK and the rest in theatres of War.
Sadly I was to die at the Military Hospital in Aylesford, Hampshire. I was buried in High Wycombe Cemetery on 5th December 1918 near to my neighbour Charles Lowe who had died on 22nd October 1918 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley, Hants and whose parents lived at 11, Baker Street.
The inscription on my grave reads: “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS”.
Researched by Ruth Bowler, Flackwell Local Area History Group
