John Henry Eltridge was born in 1926, the third of the four children of Francis William Eltridge (1891-1930) and Margaret Eunice Eltridge née Collison (1890-1973). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1926 in the Holborn registration district. His father was an umbrella frame maker.
Electoral registers show that the he lived at 85 Murray Street, Hoxton, with his parents and three siblings, James Francis Eltridge (1918-1990), Margaret Ellen Russell Eltridge (1920-2002) and Winifred Florence Eltridge (1929-2002).
On 20 July 1944 he enlisted as a Private in The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), service number 14803538, but was later attached to No.6 Commando.
He was killed in action, aged 18 years, on 11 April 1945. His Commando was at the time fighting at the River Aller crossing at Essel, Germany and he was buried in a military plot near the bridge on the eastern bank of the River Aller.
On 15 November 1945 his body was exhumed and reburied in Plot 3, Row F, Grave 4 in the Celle War Cemetery, Im Rolande, 29223 Celle, Germany.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
