Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Berridge a hosiery trade worker, born 1870 in Hyson Green, Nottinghamshire and his wife Pleasant Berridge (nee Cotton, married in the 3rd quarter of 1885 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1867 in Shepshed, Leicestershire. William Alfred was born on the 9th January1886 in Shepshed, his siblings were Harry Leonard, born 23rd May 1888 and Wilfred, born 13th April 1890 both his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 3, Raglan Street, Leicester. In March 1901 William was employed as a shoe trade rivetter and was residing in the family home at Forest Street, Shepshed together with his father, a hosiery trade worker, his mother and siblings, Harry, Wilfred, Alice, born 1893, Harold, born 20th May 1896 and Horace, born 21st November 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Shepshed. William had two younger siblings, Walter Eric, born 1901 and Evelyn Irene, born 28th March 1904, both siblings were born in Shepshed. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade rivetter and was residing in the family home at Queen Street, Shepshed together with his wife Ada Louisa Vaughan Berridge (nee Winters, married on the 5th August 1907 in the Parish Church, Shepshed) a hosiery trade worker, born 1886 in Sileby, Leicestershire and their son Claude Henry, born 1908 in Shepshed. They also had another son, Terence Alfred, born 1909 in Shepshed, who died in 1910, William’s wife died in the 2nd quarter of 1916, aged 30 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district, and her funeral and burial took place in Shepshed on the 10th May 1916. William died from influenza on the 16th February 1919 and was buried in Shepshed.
William enlisted in Leicester on the 18th January 1915 and first entered the theatre of war in France on the 28th February 1915. During his service with the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment he distinguished himself in action in August 1916 at Gommecourt where he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. He was subsequently discharged to a Commission on the 26th September 1917 and was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the 2/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and on the 28th July 1918 at Bullecourt, he again distinguished himself and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. On discharge he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
On Friday August 2nd 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MILITARY CROSS AWARDS.” – LOCAL OFFICERS HONOURED. – MILITARY CROSS. 2nd Lieut. William Alfred Berridge, Leicestershire Regiment. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while raiding an enemy post. By daring patrol work beforehand he gathered sufficient information of the enemy lines to enable him to rush the enemy post, capture a prisoner, and bring the raiding party back without a casualty in under five minutes.