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John Ridley (1899-)


Fitter from Pittington Served in the Royal Naval Air Service


John Ridley was born in Pittington on 23-Jun-1899. He was the son of John Ridley (1867-1936) a gardener who was born in Haltwhistle, Northumberland. His mother was Elizabeth Ann Nelson (1867-1945) who was originally from Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. He had a brother Philip who was born in 1901.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at Elemore Hall in Pittington where John Ridley Snr was a gardener and by 1911, they had moved into The Lodge at Polam Hall in Darlington which was the address also given on John Junior’s service record.

John Ridley entered the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 24-Oct-1917 at the age of eighteen. He was given the service number F40316 and the rank of Air Mechanic 2nd class. At the time he joined the RNAS he was working as a Fitter in civilian life and that is the trade he worked in during his service, most likely working on aircraft engines.

John spent his first 2 days at Crystal Place and then was posted to Tregantle in Cornwall for a month. From here he returned to Crystal Palace for almost three months before being posted to Cattewater in Plymouth Sound which was a seaplane station.

Like most members of the RNAS John became part of the RAF when it was formed on 01-Apr-1918. He was given the new service number of 240316 and his rank in the RAF was Air Mechanic 3rd class which was equivalent to his rank in the RNAS. He stayed at Cattewater until 31-01-19 when he was posted to Ripon Dispersal Camp for demobilisation and transfer to the RAF G Reserve which meant he returned to civilian life but could be recalled in the event of hostilities restarting.

As he left the service his final medical examination records him as medical category A. However, there is a hint in his record that he may have suffered some ill health subsequent to leaving the service as it is noted that his documents were forwarded to the Ministry of Pensions on 11-Mar-1920. It further notes that the Ministry found “no grounds for award” and his claim for a pension was rejected.

Little is known about John after the war except that, along with his mother, he was a beneficiary in his father’s will in 1936 but is not recorded as a beneficiary in his mother’s will in 1945.

John Ridley was awarded the British War Medal for his service in the RNAS and RAF.

Civil Parish: Pittington

Birth date: 23-Jun-1899

Armed force/civilian: Air Force

Residence: Elemore Hall, Pittington (1901 census)
The Lodge, Polam Hall, Darlington (1911 census and father’s address on service record)

Family: Parents: John Ridley, Elizabeth Ann Nelson
Brother: Philip Ridley

Military service:

Enlisted in Royal Naval Air Service, F40316, Air Mechanic 2nd class 24-Oct-1917
Transferred to Royal Air Force, 240316, Air Mechanic 3rd class, 01-Apr-1918
Discharged to G Reserve 31-Jan-1919

Medal(s): British War Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham

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