"The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defence and ornament; it is its ancient and natural strength, - the floating bulwark of our island." (William Blackstone)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
ROYAL NAVY
HMS HOOD
STOKER SECOND CLASS
Killed In Action
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Stoker 2nd Class Bertie Douglas Messines Eldridge was killed on 24, May 1941 when HMS Hood, struck in its' ammunition magazine by one torpedo fired by the German battleship Bismarck, sank. Within one minute, Hood had entirely disappeared from the surface of the ocean, taking 1415 Sons of England to their deaths.
There were only three survivors.
Little seems to be known about Mr. Eldridge; there is public domain information stating his birthday and birthplace, as well as the fact that he was the son of Albert and Lucy Eldridge. However, there is no information as to whether he was married, what became of surviving family members, etc. - I would greatly appreciate any information that anybody reading this page might have.
Mr. Eldridge had celebrated his 24th birthday less than one week before his death.
He is memorialized on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial - Panel 56, Column 1; he is also memorialized at Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
ROYAL NAVY
HMS HOOD
STOKER SECOND CLASS
Killed In Action
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Stoker 2nd Class Bertie Douglas Messines Eldridge was killed on 24, May 1941 when HMS Hood, struck in its' ammunition magazine by one torpedo fired by the German battleship Bismarck, sank. Within one minute, Hood had entirely disappeared from the surface of the ocean, taking 1415 Sons of England to their deaths.
There were only three survivors.
Little seems to be known about Mr. Eldridge; there is public domain information stating his birthday and birthplace, as well as the fact that he was the son of Albert and Lucy Eldridge. However, there is no information as to whether he was married, what became of surviving family members, etc. - I would greatly appreciate any information that anybody reading this page might have.
Mr. Eldridge had celebrated his 24th birthday less than one week before his death.
He is memorialized on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial - Panel 56, Column 1; he is also memorialized at Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
"The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defence and ornament; it is its ancient and natural strength, - the floating bulwark of our island." (William Blackstone)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
ROYAL NAVY
HMS HOOD
STOKER SECOND CLASS
Killed In Action
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Stoker 2nd Class Bertie Douglas Messines Eldridge was killed on 24, May 1941 when HMS Hood, struck in its' ammunition magazine by one torpedo fired by the German battleship Bismarck, sank. Within one minute, Hood had entirely disappeared from the surface of the ocean, taking 1415 Sons of England to their deaths.
There were only three survivors.
Little seems to be known about Mr. Eldridge; there is public domain information stating his birthday and birthplace, as well as the fact that he was the son of Albert and Lucy Eldridge. However, there is no information as to whether he was married, what became of surviving family members, etc. - I would greatly appreciate any information that anybody reading this page might have.
Mr. Eldridge had celebrated his 24th birthday less than one week before his death.
He is memorialized on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial - Panel 56, Column 1; he is also memorialized at Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
ROYAL NAVY
HMS HOOD
STOKER SECOND CLASS
Killed In Action
1939 - 1945 STAR
WAR MEDAL 1939 - 1945
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Stoker 2nd Class Bertie Douglas Messines Eldridge was killed on 24, May 1941 when HMS Hood, struck in its' ammunition magazine by one torpedo fired by the German battleship Bismarck, sank. Within one minute, Hood had entirely disappeared from the surface of the ocean, taking 1415 Sons of England to their deaths.
There were only three survivors.
Little seems to be known about Mr. Eldridge; there is public domain information stating his birthday and birthplace, as well as the fact that he was the son of Albert and Lucy Eldridge. However, there is no information as to whether he was married, what became of surviving family members, etc. - I would greatly appreciate any information that anybody reading this page might have.
Mr. Eldridge had celebrated his 24th birthday less than one week before his death.
He is memorialized on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial - Panel 56, Column 1; he is also memorialized at Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
