Name
W D Lodge
4 Mar 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/11/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
37170
Essex Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
Panels 32 to 38.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
NotReport
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, St Stephen Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street Village Memorial
Pre War
Wilfred was born in Frogmore on 4 Mar 1898 (baptised 8 May 1898, Frogmore) to Henry Thomas Lodge, a labourer, and Mary Ann (nee Durrant).
On the 1901 Census the family of Henry, son Wilfred were living at Watling Place, Park Street with Emily Durrant (Henry’s widowed mother in law) and Herbert Durrant (a nephew, born 1888). On the 1911 Census Wilfred was living at Watling Cottages, Frogmore with his parents, Alfred (a brush maker, born 1897), Doris (born 1904) and Gladys (born 1910). Also present was Emily Durrant (born 1831).
Wartime Service
Wilfred volunteered in the Bedfordshire Regiment around 7 Aug 1914 as Private 4/7119 (7101 serial number was issued on 7 Aug 1914).
He went to France on 29 Dec 15. No Service record was found for Wilfred so when he transferred to 1st/4 Battalion, Essex Regiment as Private 37170 (a Territorial Force formation). This Battalion had been landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli and on evacuation of the peninsula were in Egypt in Dec 1915. Taking part in the Gaza Campaign the Essex were positioned on 19 Nov 1917 at Ramleh near Jaffa. On 23 Nov 1917 they crossed the Auja River and took a Turkish outpost. On 25 Nov Turkish forces forced the Essex to withdraw back across the river. During this action Wilfred was killed.
Additional Information
War Gratuity £19 and arrears of £2 5s 8d was paid to and shared by his mother & father. Brother Alfred volunteered soon after War was declared in 1914 and served with East Surrey Regiment in France from Oct 1915 and was demobilised in Feb 1919.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
