The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Private H Ridley
Private Henry RIDLEY, G/4008, 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 18th June 1917.
Born Bromley, Kent, son of Richard Ridley, 26 / 51 / 53 Blenheim Road, Penge, SE20.
1911 Census - 103 Woodbine Grove, Penge, London SE - Richard Ridley, head, age 55, married, carman, coalman, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Jane Ridley, wife, age 55, married 6 years, 3 children, 2 still alive, born London; Harry Ridley, son, age 25, single, gardener jobbing, worker, born Bromley, Kent; Florence Ridley, daughter, age 9, born Bromley, Kent; Jessie Pretoria Ridley, daughter, age 9, born Penge SE; Arthur Richard Ridley, son, age 4, born Penge SE.
Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 23 years & 4 months, height 5ft 7½ inches, weight 143lbs, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair, tattoo anchor, crossed swords, two dots, back of right forearm, 3 dots back of left forearm. Resided Penge, Kent. Formerly labourer.
Separation Allowance 5/8 a week, Allotment of Pay of 3/6 a week payable to mother.
Home, 27th September 1914 to 4th October 1915; BEF, 1st October 1915 to 18th June 1917.
27th September 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 8th October 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 24th October 1914, posted 9th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st October 1915, posted BEF & 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st October 1915, embarked; 18th May 1916, 73 Field Ambulance, wounded bayonet, accidental; 18th May 1916, 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, wounded bayonet, accidental; 18th May 1916, Wimereux, 8 Stationary Hospital, wounded bayonet, accidental; 21st May 1916, Wimereux, 5 Convalescent Depot;
Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry held in the Field this 18th day of May 1916 by order of Lieut. Col. J C Parker, Commanding 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, to investigate the circumstances under which No.4008.Pte Ridley H. became wounded.
President - Major N I Whitty, 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. Members - Capt. C F Penton, 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, 2nd Lieut H J Wenyon, 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.
The Court having assembled proceeded to take evidence.
1st Witness - No 1579. Pte T Homewood, 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, states - **** ***** *** on the morning of the 18th May 1916, I was coming in from a listening post with Pte Ridley. We had just been relieved as we got to our parapet an enemy machine gun opened fire close to us. We all hurried up the trench, Pte Ridley put his hand on the edge of the parapet to drop down onto the fire step and his hand slipped on top of a bayonet on a rifle that was leaning against the parapet. The bayonet and the rifle were pulled down to the ground. Pte Ridley showed me his hand which was cut. The affair appeared to be entirely accidental. I was close behind Pte Ridley within arms reach of him.
2nd Witness - No.3947. L/Cpl. H W Grimston, 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, states - At about 1am on the morning of the 18th May 1916 I relieved the men on listening post in C3 trench. As we came in Pte Riddle was in front and Pte Homewood was just behind him. I was about 10 yards behind Pte Homewood. I saw Pte Ridley getting over the parapet. I heard him say something about a *** *** *** *** got into the trench I found he had cut his hand *** *** *** *** *** occur. Just as Pte Ridley was getting *** *** *** *** enemy machine gun opened fire.
2nd June 1916, I certify that the injury to the above named soldier occurred while he was in performance of military duty. In the field on the 18th May 1916 when returning from a listening post he jumped into the trench to avoid an enemy machine gun and caught his hand on a bayonet accidentally. He was in no way to blame. The soldier has been so informed - Lieut. Col. J C Parker, Commanding 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.
8th June 1916, Etaples, 24 Infantry Base Depot; 16th June 1916, to Battalion.
18th July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, died 29th May 1919; Mother, Jane Ridley, 53, Blenheim Road, Penge; Brothers - George, age 28, Old Kent Road, London; Fred, age 25, 18 Apsley Road, Penge; Arthur, age 13, 53, Blenheim Road, Penge.
Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 45 and 47., Belgium.
This page was last updated on 07-Sep-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason