Military History

Embarked at Fremantle per HMAT ‘Suffolk’ A23 for England 10.10.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 7th Infantry Brigade, 28th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement.
Bridson disembarked at Plymouth with the 28th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement 2.12.1916. He proceeded overseas to France per S.S. ‘Princess Clementine’ 22.12 1916 and transferred from the 16th Reinforcement to 28th Battalion at No.2 AD Base Etaples on 5.2.1917. Bridson was taken on strength with his Battalion on the Somme and fought in the trenches. The 28th Battalion participated in the Battle of Menin Road September 1917 and fought in the Battle of Poelcapelle in October 1917. Bridson was wounded in action by gassing 29.10.1917 (Reported wounded West Australian Newspaper 28.12.1917.) He embarked per Hospital Ship ‘Jan Breydel’ for England and was admitted to Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans, with Gas Poisoning 3.11.1917. Bridson was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital Dartford 4.1.1918. He was discharged from Hospital to Camp at Weymouth 17.1.1918. He was deemed unfit for service and embarked for early return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia per HS A8 ‘Osterley’ 31.1.1918.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 16.4.1918.
Discharged 28.4.1918.
Final Rank Private.
Medical Condition Invalided, gas poisoning and asthma.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
 Notes Bridson moved to West Guildford/ Bassendean post WW. He was an active member of the West Guildfrod Rifle Club and held position of Secretary. During the Second World War, he was the Bassendean representative on the Air Raids Precaution Personnel. He was an active member of the Bassendean RSL and participated in fund raising and was Secretary for 10 years from 1942-1952. Bridson’s sister's fiancée, Lieutenant R. G. Plummer, died in England 12.2.1919 of Spanish Flu.
Photos  SS 'Suffolk' in Suez Canal 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P00998.027
              Menin Road. Soldiers marching to the front 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0464
              Poelcapelle 1917. Photographer William Rider-Rider, photograph Library of LAC PA-002165 Library and Archives of Canada collection Canada
              Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise deL'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04851

Information Source
AWM P00998.027. SS 'Suffolk' in Suez Canal 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0464. Menin Road. Soldiers marching to the front 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04851. Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise deL'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll 5811- Douglas Bridson
Guildford War Memorial
LAC PA-002165. Poelcapelle 1917. Photographer William Rider-Rider collection,photograph  sourced from the Library and Archives of Canada
NAA: B2455, Bridson D
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories

13 Wellman Street, East Guildford, WA.

Associated Images