The_Poppy_March_2012.pdf - The Western Front Association

The Bridcutts of Benson
by Rob Lovesey
Some months ago, I was given a copy of “War Memorial
and Graves Book of Remembrance, Benson, Oxfordshire”. It
was whilst preparing to undertake my annual pilgrimage to
the Western Front, I thought it would be a nice idea to visit
the graves of the fallen from the village. One name became
particularly interesting, that of John Henry Bridcutt.
Born in 1874 to John Bridcutt, a general labourer, and
Amelia Owen, John Henry’s life would be moulded by a tragic
up-bringing and military discipline. By the age of six, John
Henry Bridcutt had endured the death of his mother in 1879.
His father, left with three small children, Agnes, John Henry
and Charles Amos, had to take on a housekeeper, Esther,
whilst continuing to work as a labourer in the fields and
providing for his family.
Benson War Memorial, Benson, Oxfordshire
Little is known about the life of young John Henry. It is Charles went to St. Albans, Hertfordshire and enlisted
apparent that he did well at school and was able to read and into the 7th Bn East Surrey Regiment in June 1916 and
write; this is evident as his attestation papers for enlistment after his training was sent France in the October. He served
into the army had his trade or calling as a Clerk.
with distinction at Beaumont-Hamel, Arras and Vimy
What is not apparent is what his home life was like; Ridge, where he was killed in action on 3rd May 1917. He is
his father had married the housekeeper and settled into commemorated on the Arras Memorial, bay 7, Avenue du
domesticity, having seven further children. You can draw Mémorial des Fusillés, 62000 Arras, Pas de Calais, France, as
your own conclusions but the census shows that Agnes, John his body was never found.
Henry and Charles Amos were to leave the village at a very John on the other hand, at the age of 19, enlisted with the
young age.
1st Bn Coldstream Guards on 3rd July 1893, signing on for
seven years initially. He was to have a remarkable career with
the Coldstream Guards.
Within eight years of his enlistment he would rise to the
rank of Sgt. Major. He was to serve with distinction with the
Guards in the South African War, where he was Mentioned
in Despatches twice.
In August 1914, he took up the position of Garrison Sgt.
Major, London District, although his career was to take an
entirely new path by March 1915 and see him elevated way
beyond his very humble beginnings in Benson.
The high casualty rates in 1914, especially among British
Officers forced the Army to seek potential commission
entrants from the ranks. John with his excellent record for
organisation was selected and was elevated to “Temporary
Gentleman”. He was appointed to a commission as 2nd
Lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry on 6th March 1915.
I believe, however, that he never served with this Regiment
for on the same day he was transferred to the 7th Bn
Bedfordshire Regiment. Within ten months of being with the
Bedfords, he was to be promoted to Temporary Captain.
In the early summer months of 1916 Captain Bridcutt’s
professionalism was exercised. When acting as Adjutant to
the Battalion he was responsible for the organisation and the
preparedness of the Regiment for the forthcoming Battle of
the Somme. At about midnight on the 30th June 1916 the
7th Bn Bedfordshire Regiment, part of the 54th Brigade, was
concentrated in the trenches just outside Carnoy, for the
assault on the morning of the 1st July.
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