Edward James Ettridge was born on 18 September 1917, the eldest of the six children of Edward Ettridge (1891-1973) and Elizabeth Mary Ettridge née Rawlinson (1894-1940). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1917 in the Hackney Registration District, London. On 3 October 1917 he was baptised in St Andrew's Church, Viaduct Street, Bethnal Green, London, where in the baptismal register his date of birth was confirmed, that his family were shown to be living at 130 Coventry Street, Bethnal Green, and that his father was a carman.
He was shown as aged 3 years, 9 months on the census return form completed by his father on 19 June 1921. He was living in four rooms at 140 Coventry Street, London, E2 with his parents and his sister Doris Elizabeth Ettridge, aged 1 year, 6 months. His mother was shown as aged 26 years and a housewife, whilst his father described himself as aged 29 years, 7 months and a carman employed by Carter Paterson Carriers at Goswell Road, London, EC1.
This image shows him on the extreme right in the photograph. His five siblings were: Doris Elizabeth Ettridge (1920-1999); Sidney Edward Ettridge (1923-1995); Marie Elizabeth Ettridge (1925-1991); Hilda Elizabeth Ettridge (1930-2016) and David Edward Ettridge (1932-1940).
When the England and Wales Register was compiled on 29 September 1939 he was listed as a wood machinist cross sawyer and living at 30 Edwy House, Homerton Road, London, E9, with his father - a wood machinist drum sander, his mother - who was shown as on unpaid domestic duties, and his five siblings: Doris Elizabeth Ettridge - a ladies underwear presser; Sidney Edward Ettridge - a learner cabinet maker; Marie Elizabeth Ettridge - a ladies tailor learner; Hilda Elizabeth Ettridge - attending school and David Edward Ettridge who was also attending school.
He enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, service number 2003360 and was attached to 2 Field Branch, Depot Battalion, when he was killed by a German bomb that fell on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940. His death was registered as aged 22 years in the 3rd quarter of 1940 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London. His body was buried in a communal grave in the City of London Cemetery & Crematorium, Aldersbrook Road, London E12 5DQ. As he has no headstone his surrounding the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cross of Sacrifice.
He is shown as 'ETTRIDGE Edward 22' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
He is also commemorated on the , on the and in that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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