George Burridge

Story:
George Burridge was born in 1873 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, on 25 Dec 1873 the son of Charles Burridge, a Blacksmith and Farrier, and Agnes Burridge (nee Flower). The family lived in Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury. He had originally enlisted on 13th June 1898 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5701) and had served in Malta and India. He was discharged to reserves on 12 Jun 1910. At the outbreak of war he re-enlisted on 26 Aug 1914 with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7652). He was transferred on numerous occasions - 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (S/n 19923), 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (S/n 14683), The Labour Corps (S/n 451361) and finally, the 39th Garrison Company, 43rd (G) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (S/n G/105488). He served in France from 6 May 1915 and received gunshot wounds in July 1916. He was eventually discharged on 23rd February 1917 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He gave his home address then as Hawkesdene Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, where he was living at the time of the 1921 Census. He had married Ellen Mary Sheridan at Shaftesbury on 13th September 1917 and they had two children.   George died on 15th Jun 1924 and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 19th June 1924.  George's brothers, Maurice Burridge and Walter Burridge also served in the conflict in the Royal Navy.  A cousin, Percy Albert Burridge, who had been born in Dorchester, Dorset, in 1877 and was also in the Royal Navy, registered the address of the family for the 1918 Absent Voters List and remained so until 1921.