Charles John Austridge

Story:
Charles John Austridge was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1870 the son of Henry Austridge and Mary Austridge (nee King).  He lived his very early life in Semley before the family moved to Wardour, Wiltshire, by 1911.  Charles during the latter time had enlisted on 16 Nov 1888 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2322) and served in the UK and India until he finished his engagement on 15 Nov 1909 on a pension and was also awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.  He then went to live with his brother in Wardour, Wiltshire. until he re-enlisted on 26 Apr 1915 and joined the 4th Battalion of his old Regiment still with the rank of Private (Service No. 5781).   He was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on 29 Apr 1916 (Service No. 10310) and was attached to the No. 2 Supply Company.  He remained throughout in the UK during this service period.  He was discharged on 18 Jan 1917 being unfit for further duty due to Chronic Bronchitis.  He received the Silver War Badge No. 49269.  He married Isabella Mary Pain in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration area in 1920 and they went on to have two daughters.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Highwood, Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Gardener for Lady Arundell of New Wardour Castle. His death was recorded at the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1936 and he was buried in the Wardour RC Cemetery on 11 Jan 1936.