*Arthur Martin was presumed dead at St Quentin, on 21st March 1918, at the age of 34.  He is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.

On 26th December 1908 another daughter , Mabel Elizabeth, married Petty Officer Henry Robinson from Sunderland.    In the account of the wedding in the Hastings Observer of that week, it refers to her twenty three years connection with St Mathew’s Infants School as scholar, and teacher for fourteen years.  It also mentions the presence of her brother Herbert, who was in the Royal Engineers.

By 1911 Eliza had moved next door to 47, Silverlands Road, and was working as an ironer at a laundry.  John was already in the army, serving as a gunner with 96 Co. Royal Garrison Artillery at Fort Tigne, Malta.  His brother Herbert was an army reservist, Arthur was a bookseller’s assistant and Edward at 14 was still at school. According to the census form which was signed by Edward there were only three rooms in the house.

Hubert Edward Bridgeland was a private in 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.  The tribute to him in De Ruvigney’s Roll of Honour said that he was born on 8th February 1895 and was educated at Tower Road Board School.  He volunteered and enlisted in the army at the end of August 1914, went to France on 8th April 1915 and was killed at Vermelles on 27th September 1915.  A comrade wrote ’It was while we were advancing that he met his fate, a shell exploding just in front of him, the shock proving to be fatal.  He was neither hit nor wounded.  It was purely the shock.’  He is remembered on the Loos Memorial.  Vermelles was part of  the Battle of Loos, which began on 25th September 1915, a massive offensive characterised by intensive use of artillery and the first use of poison gas by the British Army.

Arthur James Bridgeland joined the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards and was a lance corporal when he was killed in action at Sailly Saillizel on 11th December 1916 at the age of 21.  He is buried in the Guards Cemetery at Combles (Somme).

Both Edward and Arthur had gone to France on the same day.

John was killed at Ypres on 8th May 1918 at the age of 33.  He was a sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery and is buried in the Gwalia Cemetery Belgium.

Another brother Percy seems to have survived the war, becoming an officer.

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This story points to some of the difficulties that can be experienced with biographical research. Although the daughters of the family seem to have retained the Bridgeland Carrott name, the sons appear to have dropped the Carrott part in the army, which made it difficult to trace them.

Added to this, *Arthur Martin’s name was in fact Daniel Arthur Edward Martin.