100-year-old who looked after war refugees dies
Making parts for Lancaster Bombers and caring for refugee children sent away from the danger of German bombs, Elsie Bridgwater did more than her bit for the war effort.
The family of the great-great-grandmother have paid tribute to her after she passed away at the age of 100.
Mrs Bridgwater spent her final years in Holloway Court in Colley Gate, Halesowen, and was surrounded by loved ones to celebrate reaching her century in June.
She was born Elsie May Troughton in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove and worked at the Rover plant in Longbridge.
After the war she worked in a nursing home looking after disabled children and adults.
Her husband, George, was a lorry driver and air raid warden.
The couple lived in a cottage in Belbroughton and had a daughter Maisie, who passed away 24 years ago at the age of 59.
As her funeral took place yesterday Mrs Bridgwater's granddaughter Melanie Morton, from Weston-under-Lizard, revealed how her grandparents had taken in three young boys evacuated from Birmingham during the Second World War.
Mrs Morton, aged 51, said: "They would get a little money for looking after them but it was never enough to cover the costs.
"So my grandmother went out to work on the land, picking potatoes and more in order to earn enough money to put shoes on the children's feet.
"We did not find that out for many years until my father mentioned it to us so we don't know any more about the boys or what happened to them.
"But as well as that she worked at Longbridge on the parts that went into the Lancaster Bombers used in the Dambusters raid."
Mrs Bridgwater lived in Catshill near Bromsgrove before moving into residential care.
At the age of 88 she had to have her right leg amputated below the knee because of septicemia.
Mrs Morton said: "Until then she had been very independent, doing everything in her own way.
"All through her life she was the jolliest person.
"She would give anybody her last penny and was the most generous person I know and was a truly remarkable lady."
Mrs Bridgwater leaves two granddaughters - Mrs Morton and her sister Angela Hackett. Two other grandchildren, Susan Moor and David Hand, have passed away.
She also leaves eight great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.
