Menin Gate Memorial
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
There is little information about this soldier. He lived at Sherrif Hill Gateshead and worked at the Fanny Pit. He had a brother called John George Ridley who lived at Wrekenton in 1915.
He enlisted at Gateshead and on 20 April 1915 he was sent to France. It is likely that Ralph left Newcastle Central Station on 19 April and the following day was on his way to the front along with his comrades.
Within days these inexperienced Durham soldiers were fighting in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Ralph died 12 May 1915 less than a month of arriving on the battlefield.
Medals :- 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Ralph Ridley is remembered at Gateshead Fell on G39.064 at Heworth on H92.03 andH92.08
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 116