Posted by Dusan Popratnjak, 6/23/08 at 5:40:10 PM.

Aldridge Books.

Please find a list of publications that provide information about Aldridge.

Title :- Street Names of Aldridge Rushall Streetly &  Pheasey.

Walsall Local History Centre 1996

ISBN 0 946652 43 0.

Author :-Betty Fox.

Title:-Aldridge History Trail.

Walsall Local History Centre - Betty Fox

ISBN 09466532 20 1

Title :-Aldridge Cricket

Author :-Jack Matthews (1948)

Title:- 150 Years of Aldridge Cricket Club

Editor David Whinyates

on Sale at Aldridge Cricket Club

 Title:- Aldridge Cricket Club. 1853- 2003

Author:- Rob Boulton

ISBN 0 - 9521381-3-1

Title:-Aldridge on old postcards.

Author:- Jan Farrow (1993)

ISBN O 946245 76 2

Aldridge Re - visited

Title :- Aldridge Village Memories.

Author :-Stan Brookhouse & John Sale. (1991)

Title:- Aldridge in Old Photographs

Compiled by Jan Farrow

from the memories of Stan Brookhouse and others

ISBN 0-86299-972 -3

Title :-Men Of Aldridge.

Author:- Jim Gould M.A.F.S.A

Title:-The Wonder Is You

Anthology of Poems

Author :- By Andrew Blakemore

includes many poems about Aldridge,these are published on our web site with kind permission of Andrew

Bonner V.C

Dramatic tale behind Victoria Cross is told.

Book pays tribute to decorated war hero.

With his boots almost on fire and his ship sinking,Gus Bonner ignored his injuries and turned his attention to caring for the rest of the crew.For his brave actions on board the HMS Dunraven in August 1917 Charles George (Gus 0 Bonner spent a weekend with King George V who presented him with the Victoria Cross.

Now 91 years later,writer Sue Satterthwaite has paid tribute to the Aldridge hero by collating his biography.

Launched this week,the book is filled with never seen before photographs,letters and documents,which give readers an insight in to his personality.Gus spends the whole war fighting U boats and ended up working on Q - boats which were known as mystery ships,says Sue aged 53,of Walsall Wood Road in Aldridge.

Mystery ships were merchant vessels that appeared to be normal but had hidden guns and ammunition on board.On the surface there were the normal crews who would appear to fly in to a panic when a German U boat came near.But actually there were twice as many men inside the ship who were just waiting,for a U boat to come nearby and then the hidden guns would be revealled.Sadly the statistics were in favour of the U boat but Gus 's first attempt,on board the HMS Pargust,led to the sinking of a submarine.

Lieutenant Bonner was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for that victory but it was on his next ship,as first officer on the HMS Dunraven,where things did not go to plan.The sub was firing on the ship at it was closing in and they hit the place where Gus was hiding and he was blown in to the air.When he regained conciousness he went on to the poop deck where the men were with guns and ammunition,but it was already on fire.They could not risk the U boat seeing them so they stayed with the fire and even though their boots were smoking and they were choking,they did not leave their positions.

Once again Gus was blown up in to the air by a blast and landed on the ships deck,but even though he was hurt Gus was heping to treat the injured men on the ship.No one knows how he survived but a US navy ship was passing by and is belived to have frightened off the U boat.Even though the ship was sinkng Gus was allowed to stay on until the end to cheer every one up.Sue was asked to write the book by Gus's nephew David Partridge,who lives in Aldridge and is president of the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

Sue says "I knew a little bit about Gus Bonner but I was 'nt sure if there was enough information on him for a book.That was until I saw the stack of letters,photographs and documents that David Partridge had - it took me three months just to read it all.

Gus was born in Shuttington in Tamworth and his family moved to Aldridge in 1855.In the same year that Gus received the V.C he married Alice known as Cissy,and the following year his only Child Gordon Dunraven Bonner was born.

In February 1951 he died at his home in Edinburgh and his ashes were taken to Aldridge Parish church.It is sad to think Gus would never br able to share his experiences with his grand children in person but his family's amazing collection of photographs,newspaper cuttings,documents and letters ensures that his memory lives on.

• Bonner VC,The Biography of Gus Bonner VC and Master Mariner,is on salepriced £19.99p.

Title :- Leaving the Village.

This book is dedicated in the memory of Aldridge men who gave their lives in war and includes details and many photographs

Author:-by Sue Satherwaite.

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