School Magazine
Photo: Marie McNicholl
In St. Mary's Churchyard is a family headstone for Lightfoot which includes:
James Milburn
eldest son of the above
who was killed in action
at Vermells in Belgium
Sept. 27th 1915, aged 29 years
He answered his country's call
and gave his life for all.
Henry Mills Ridley
beloved husband of
Barbara Ann Ridley
and son-in-law of the above
died of wounds while prisoner
of war Isechem, May 23rd, 1918
aged 31
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Mills Ridley was born at Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham in 1886, one of 6 children of whom only 4 survived, born to William Henry Ridley born 1857 at St Anthony’s Village, Northumberland and his wife Sophia Snowball of South Shields, Northumberland born 1859. His parents were married at South Shields in 1879 and lived in with her parents at Ballast Hill, Heworth, both William and his father-in-law were employed as watermen. William Snowball died at Gateshead in 1891, his widow Mary remained with them and their children when they all moved to the adjoining street of Summerside Place. Ten year later they were still at Summerside Place, Henry Mills Ridley, now 14 years old was a scholar and attended Gateshead Secondary School at the corner of Prince Consort Road and Durham Road, by 1911 he was employed as joiner at the shipyards, his elder brother William was married, his younger brother Joseph worked as a clerk for an electrical supplier and sister Mary assisted his mother at home whilst his father continued his work as a waterman.
Henry Mills Ridley married Barbara Ann Lightfoot in the district of Gateshead in 1914 just prior to his enlistment as Private 325, assigned to the 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force part of the Northumbrian Division. They were moved to Boldon Colliery then on to Ravensworth Park returning to Newcastle-upon-Tyne by October 1914. Mobilised they embarked for France, landing at Boulogne between the 17th-20th April 1915 joining the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Entrained, by the 23rd they were concentrated near Steenvoorde in Belgium just as the German army had attacked nearby Ypres, using poison gas for the first time and the division was rushed into battle taking part in the Battle of St. Julien, Frezenburg Ridge and Bellewaarde Ridge, phases of the Second Battles of Ypres. Moved to the battlefields of the Somme they first participated at the Battle of Flers-Coucelette, September 15th-22nd 1916, Morval 25th-28th and Transloy 1st-8th October 1916 and at the Butte de Warlencourt where the 1/6th, 1/8th and 1/9th lost between them nearly 940 officers and men killed, wounded or missing for absolutely no gain.
The attack along the line at Arras began April 9th 1917 where the Territorial battalions were in action towards the end of the month around Guermappe. During his service at the front Private Ridley had risen through the ranks to Sergeant, July 30th 1917 he was discharged from the ranks and offered a commission finally reaching the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Spring 1918 the 9th Battalion fought at Bucquoy, it was April 19th 1918 that 2nd Lieutenant Ridley went missing and in fact had been taken prisoner. Whilst in the hands of the Germans he died five weeks later May 23rd 1918 and was interred at Iseghem Communal Cemetery German Extension, his grave marked with a cross. His death was communicated as to have died of wounds, this was common practise by the Germans but many indeed died of mistreatment, neglect and disease.
His widow Barbara Ann received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Now living at Eighton House, River View, Felling, probate was granted to her from her late husbands estate in the sum of 160 pounds 2 shillings and 5 pence, March 1st 1919.
After Armistice she received notice that the body of her husband had been found, identified and exhumed for reburial at the newly formed Harlelbeke New British Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres in Belgium. 2nd Lieutenant Henry Mills Ridley Durham Light Infantry was reburied there with all reverence and honour, June 10th 1924, grave XXII. E. 12. His wife commissioned at a cost of 4 shillings and 11 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone which reads, “Peace Perfect Peace”. At the time of his death Henry Mills Ridley was 32 years old.
Barbara Ann Ridley nee Lightfoot of Seacrest Avenue, Cullercoats, Northumberland never remarried and died childless, March 27th 1941 at 88 Inskip Terrace, Gateshead, County Durham, leaving probate in the sum of 2556 pounds 19 shillings and 6 pence to the Provincial Bank Limited.
The blow to his parents of loosing their son Henry Mills Ridley was followed all too swiftly by the news of the death of their youngest son Joseph less than one month later, June 15th 1918, whilst serving as 2nd Lieutenant with the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in Italy. Interred at Magnaboshi British Cemetery, Vicenza, Italy.
William Henry Ridley died aged 81 years at Sheffield in 1938 his wife Sophia Ridley nee Snowball died also at Sheffield, December 17th 1942 aged 82 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Henry Mills Ridley is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Gateshead on G39.003
