Stephen T. and Charles Redman were cousins who worked as farm labourers; their families lived in Upper Gravenhurst. Both enlisted at Bedford to volunteer their service for King and Country. The Redman boys had consecutive service numbers which means that they attested together.
Source: The National Archive
On October 23, 1915 Stephen and Charles arrived at the Bedfordshire Training Depot, Ampthill and were assigned to No.3 Company.
Private 22790 Stephen Redman joined the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and was later promoted to Lance Corporal.
Private 22791 Charles Redman was drafted on July 10, 1916 to join the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and rose to the rank of Corporal. He was wounded in action and died on December 5, 1916 aged 23 years. Charles was laid to rest at the Gorre Cemetery in France.
Two months later on February 8, 1917 his cousin Stephen (20) was killed in action. He is remembered on the war memorial at Thiepval in the Somme region of France.
Stephen and Charles both received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Stephen and Charles Redman are remembered on the war memorial at St. Giles’ Church, Upper Gravenhurst.
St Giles’ Churchyard
4022 Private W.G. Redman
A third Redman is remembered on the war memorial at St. Giles Church. Walter George Redman is the older cousin of Charles and Stephen Redman. We know that Walter didn’t train at the Ampthill Camp. On January 14, 1915 he was draft the East Surrey Regiment in Belgium. On Monday, February 14th – exactly one month later – Walter (30) went missing in action. Walter was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres.
Source:
The Bedfordshire Standard. The original broadsheet is part of the Bedfordshire & Luton Archive.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
RBL Roll of Honour
Bedsatwar blog
Bedsathome blog
ancestry.com
Www.bedfordshireregiment.co.uk
Text and images copyright S.Hartley (2015-)
Care is taken to ensure accuracy – please accept my apologies if the content contains any errors.
BUY: Stencilling Tommy’s Footprints
This 48 page book tells the story of how Tommy’s Footprints came about and notes the many people who have contributed and connected. There are just 150 individually numbered books. A unique Christmas gift.
Proceeds will help to fund a book about the Ampthill Camp ~ profits to benefit the charity Combat Stress which was founded in 1919 to help WWI veterans deal with shell shock.
£6 (inc p&p). Please email hartleyhare135@gmail.com to order by PayPal or BACS transfer. The book is also available from Ampthill Town Council, The Hub and The Stationery Boutique in Ampthill while stocks last.
Tommy's Footprints..... 
Pingback: WWI – Ampthill Command Depot in Ampthill Park – the Camp Diary, February 1917 | Tommy's Footprints…..