Private Albert E Etheridge DCM

Albert Edward Etheridge was born on 6 May 1916 and on 12 June 1934, aged 18, enlisted into the Rifle Brigade.

Rifleman Etheridge served in served in Malta and India until 1939 when he was posted to Palestine. Whilst there, he was accepted into the newly formed 10th Battalion in January 1943.

Private Etheridge travelled to North Africa in August 1943, and then to Italy, returning to the UK in December 1943.

In 1944 Private Etheridge took part in Operation Market Garden at Arnhem, where his actions won him a Distinguished Conduct Medal when he single-handedly attacked a machine gun post, and silenced four snipers.

Private Etheridge was trapped in the cellar of a house, but managed to escape and cross the Rhine.

He returned to Arnhem to take part in the making of the film “Theirs is the Glory”, in which he had a brief moment of stardom with one sentence. For those with a copy of the film, he is drawing water from a household radiator.

In 1945, Albert married Winnifred.

Albert Etheridge died on 27 May 1991, aged 75. His profile shows Pte A E Etheridge. B-Coy, 10 Para Bn. Thorpe Satchville. June 1944