2nd Lieutenant G.A.E. Ridout © IWM (HU 124948)

Newcastle Journal Tuesday 09/04/1918

Eton College in 1914

Cornhill Magazine 1918 Eton scholboys 1918

Newcastle Journal Thursday 11/11/1915

Gaspard Alured Evelyn Ridout was born 1st September 1898, the youngest son, at Condercum House, Benwell, Northumberland, of Arthur George Ridout, [born 1853 in Ash, Kent and died 1939], and his wife Beaujolois Mabel [born 1861, St Georges Square, Hanover, London, died 29th April 1940], elder daughter of the late John Gaspard Fanshawe, of Parloes, Essex. [was a clerk in the Board of Trade].

Beaujolois Mabel [born 1861] died at 5 Norman Road, Winchester, and left a will of £9943 0s 11d to her daughter Beaujolois Theresa Constance Wodehouse.

Gaspard had a elder sister called Beaujolois Theresa Constance, born 1890. She married at the English Cathedral Church of St Paul, Malta, Lieutenant-Commander Philip G. Wodehouse, Royal Navy, [HMS Rattlesnake], eldest son of Prebendary and Mrs Wodehouse, of Wheatridge, Torquay.

Gaspard's father was the Manager of Lloyds Bank in Newcastle, Quayside Branch, formerly called the Lambton Bank. He retired after 38 years service in September 1918, he was presented in the Mayor's Chamber at the Guildhall, on Thursday 26th September at 12.45 pm. He received a Silver Salver, a cheque [of handsome proportions], an illuminated album. This was presented by Sir Alfred Palmer Bart.

He was also involved in the Social Welfare Movement, which represented local charities and Councils of Social Welfare. On Thursday 26th March 1914, he was in a meeting which chaired by Colonel H.A. Erskine, combined all the Charities and Social Welfare representations into one united conference.

He was also a member of the Derby Scheme Tribunal for Tyneside.

He died at 72 Pilbeach Gardens, Kensington, London, age 86 on the 20th July 1939. Leaving a will to his widow of £9246 14s 8d.

Gaspard was educated at Eton College, [where he was a Sixth Form Boy], from the Summer Half of 1911 to the Michaelmas Half of 1916 (the autumn term), and that he was in the house of Allen Seville Ramsay (A.B.R.), and had Allen Seville Ramsay and William Douglas Eggar (W.D.E.) as his tutors, and then Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, [where he was third on the list of those commissioned to the Royal Field Artillery].

He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on the 25th January 1918, served with the British Expeditionary Force with the 331st Brigade Royal Field Artillery, from the 6th February 1918.

He was killed in action near Carpeza Copse, close to the village of Hesbecourt, east of Roisel on the 21st March 1918, (The first day of the mighty German Offensive), and was left where he fell.

His commanding Officer wrote:- He had only been with us a month, but soon became a general favourite, being a gallant gentlemanly boy, and a good soldier, who set a fine example always to all.

And his Science Master: Among the many losses we have suffered at Eton, I feel your son's death in this noble resistance more acutely than others; I had known and loved him well.

An extract from the 'Eton Chronicle' states Gaspard Ridout was a very quiet boy, who nevertheless, had developed friends, and took an intense interest in all aspects of school life. He was endowed with considerable talent, and when he tried for Woolwich he was the only Etonian who passed. The work interested him, and he made his mark there, and passed out third of his year. The end came very soon after he had gone to the front.... He has added to Eton's Roll of Honour a name which is affectionately cherished and honoured by his schoolfellows.

He was unmarried.

In his will he left £159 0s 1d to his father Arthur George Ridout Bank manager.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Footnote: 5,619 OEs [Old Etonians] served in the Armed Forces (Royal Navy and Royal Marines 163; Army 5,320; Royal Air Force 136). 1,157 died.

Source: Eton College Archives thanks to James Harrison.

Source: Album by T.E. Chisenhale-Marsh (C.L.L.-C. & F.H.R. 1878M - 1884S), loaned by John Humphreys to MEL (1984).

Decorated page, 4 portraits, Meeking, Ridout, Taylor Whitehead, O'Brien, OTC Camp, Tidworth, Pennings, Mullens, Stacey, Ridout, Beech. Corps Album 1914-16.

Gaspard Alured Evelyn Ridout is remembered at Benwell on B86.02 and on the Eton College bronze War Memorial outside Porter’s Lodge at Eton.

Death of our best and brightest article
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Ridout