Remembering WW1 hero from Castle Brom

LOCAL HERO: Richard Bridgeman
Photo/BirminghamHistory.net

THE extraordinary story of one of the servicemen named on Castle Bromwich’s war memorial has been retold on the 100th anniversary of his death.
Richard Bridgeman, the son of the fourth Earl of Bradford, had lost his life in January 1917, while on active service in East Africa.
Details of his military history and the final days of his life were recently posted on the Solihull Life blog, which is providing regular reports on the borough men who gave their lives during the First World War.
There is a surprisingly detailed account of the 37-year-old’s final mission, with details provided by a captured German captain appearing in the local press some months after his death.
Commander Bridgeman and a second man, Flight Commander Edwin Moon, had been carrying out aerial reconnaissance over what is now Tanzania when their seaplane ran into difficulties. Magnetic failure forced them to land in enemy territory and realising the damage was beyond repair, the two men burned the craft and fled.
Aware that the Germans had seen them land, the pair hunted the jungle for a way to escape. The newspaper report picks up the story.
“After much weary wandering they discovered an empty house, and by removing the window frame and roughly fastening planks across, they constructed a raft.
“They were frequently up to the neck in water, and the only relief they could obtain from the millions of mosquitos was continually dipping their heads under the surface.
“The cocoanut [sic] milk they carried in bottles turned sour, and by the evening of the third day both officers were completely exhausted, and Commander Bridgeman was almost insensible.”
Travelling downriver on the makeshift raft, the soldiers were swept out into the open sea.
By this stage the craft was waterlogged and Flt Cdr Moon had the terrible task of trying to keep himself afloat and his comrade’s head above the water.
Tragically Commander Bridgeman died from exposure despite his friend’s best efforts. His body was eventually washed ashore and buried at Dar es Salaam War Cemetery.
You can read more about his story, and other accounts of local men who died during the First World War, here.