RIDLEY BROTHER'S MEDALS REUNITED AT GREEN HOWARDS MUSEUM
2nd March 2009

Major Ridley

This week Major Charles Ridley’s medals were donated by his son and daughter. Major Ridley was the brother of Colonel T.K.G. Ridley whose medals are already displayed in the medal room and 2Lt Stewart Gordon Ridley of the 4th and 12th Bn (Teeside Pioneers) who later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. The medal group includes 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal with oak leaf and two long service Territorial Army medals issued in 1942 and 1954, and a M.B.E. Major Ridley joined the 4th Battalion in 1920 when the Territorial Army was raised and was an active member of the Battalion until he was ordained in 1934. After his ordination he served his title as the Curate of St Mark, Woodhouse, Leeds and was Priest in Charge of Camphill, before becoming Vicar of Kippax, and Great Preston as well as Chaplain within the RAChD. (T.A.). Major Ridley also served in the B.E.F., in the Western Desert, Scilly and Italy during the Second World War. His service in the World War II is already recorded in the museum with a display of his chalice, paten, alter cloth and triptych found at Monte Cassino. For a number of years he was Vicar of Catterick with Tunstall and an officiating Chaplain with the R.A.F. Regiment Depot at Catterick. Major Ridley died at his home in Harrogate on 26th July 1966. Major Ridley’s medals will be displayed alongside his earlier donations to the museum. Colonel T.K.G Ridley joined the 4th Battalion Green Howards at the outbreak of World War I as a private and in 1915 was commissioned and later became Adjutant of the 12th Battalion and was awarded the Military Cross. After the war he returned to his native Redcar and commanded the Redcar and Skelton Company of the 4th Battalion when it was re-formed in 1920. In 1930 he was promoted to Major and received the Territorial Decoration in 1934 and was appointed to command the 4th Battalion in 1936. At the outbreak of World War II Colonel Ridley was found unfit for service overseas and was appointed to command the Middlesbrough Garrison which he held until 1945. In 1942 he was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In 1945 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the North Riding of Yorkshire and a Magistrate. Colonel Ridley died on the 2nd August 1954 aged 59 years. 2Lt Stewart Gordon Ridley served with 17 Sqn as a pilot. In June 1916 the squadron was engaged in reconnaissance and bombing missions against Senussi tribesmen in the Western Desert. On the 15th June he was flying a BE2c when he and another aircraft became lost and landed for the night in the desert. The following morning 2Lt Ridley could not start his engine so the other pilot took off to seek help. Meanwhile, 2Lt Ridley and his observer/mechanic got the engine started. They took off but suffered another engine failure and were forced down. With their position unknown it was some time before they were located. 2Lt Ridley decided that the remaining water should be given to the mechanic who had a family and chose to shoot himself in order to save the mechanics life. He was nineteen years old. His death was recorded as 18th June 1916 and he and his crewman were buried at MINIA, Egypt.

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