De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol. 1 page 307

Brigadier-General James Foster Riddell

James Foster Riddell was the only son of the late John Riddell [5th in descent from the Rev. Archibald Riddell, 3rd son of Sir Walter Riddell, 2nd Bart. of Riddell, co. Roxburgh], and his first wife, Jane, daughter of William Peppercorn; born 17th October 1861; educated Wellington and Sandhurst, gazetted 2nd Lieutenant 1st July, 1881, Captain 18th November. 1889, Major 10th January. 1900, Lieut-Colonel. 15th August. 1904, Colonel. 15th August. 1907, substantive Colonel. 10th February. 1909, Brigadier commanding Northumberland Infantry Brigade, 3rd July 1911, and Brigadier-General 5th August. 1914.

He served in the Hazara Campaign of 1888 (mentioned in despatches, medal with clasp); in the South African War, 1899-1900 and 1902, including the operations in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River, 1899-1900, and in the Orange Free State Jan. to May, 1902 (Queen's medal with three clasps), and with the Expeditionary Force in France, 21-26th April, 1915.

During the South African War he raised the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (which he afterwards commanded), and on the battalion. being disbanded after the war, was given the command of the 2nd Battalion with whom he finished his term of command in the regiment having served with it for about 30 years. His next command was in 1911 when he was made Brigade Commander of the Northumberland Infantry Brigade.

He married at St Mary Abbotts, Kensington, 17th April, 1912, Margaret Christabel (Lesbury House, Lesbury, Northumberland), daughter of the late Sir Henry Hall Scott, well known in Northumberland and of Eilanreach co. Inverness.

On the outbreak of war in 1914 he was one of the first colonels to be gazetted Brigadier-General. Throughout the winter of 1914-15, Gen. Riddell guarded the important part of the north-east coast behind which lay the vast military resources of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and he further prepared his Brigade for service abroad. On the night of 20-21st April he crossed with his Brigade to France, and on 26 April - not a week later - was killed in the Second Battle of Ypres. It had been intended, as are, of course, all large units at first to quarter the Northumberland Brigade at a base in France. Billets were actually taken, but on the 22nd the Germans delivered their first gas attack and the Brigade was rushed up in all haste to help to fill the great gap torn in our line. By Sunday, after a forced night march without food or rest, except the men's emergency rations, the Brigade was in touch with the enemy. All that day and the night before, Gen. Riddell was moving about among his men where the fire was hottest, inspiring the men with his extraordinary cheerfulness and absolute coolness.

Men and officers alike speak of his example of absolute fearlessness. Next day, April 26th, orders were received at Brigade Headquarters that the Brigade was to attack and retake at all costs the village of St. Julien - a frontal attack over open ground swept by fire of all kinds. At about three o'clock, Gen. Riddell decided he must go forward into the firing line. His Brigade Major did all that he could to stop him, as in that officer's words, There was a very murderous fire going on over the ground he had to cross. But he was much too brave a man to be deterred by anything I said.

He reached his men, and wearing the marks of his rank exposed to every sniper, he stepped out before them, a stick in his hand. An eye-witness wrote: It was only a question of time. The bullet entered the cap close to the fatally conspicuous gilt flap, and Gen. Riddell fell, killed apparently instantaneously.

Field-Marshall Sir John French afterwards addressed the Brigade (depleted within a week from leaving England of more than half its officers and men), and speaking of Gen. Riddell, said: He fell at the head of his Brigade while leading you to attack the village of St. Julien. I deeply deplore the loss of one of the most gallant officers that ever lived, and one of the best leaders.

Morpeth Herald 07/05/1915 carries an obituary:

Brigadier-General J.F. RIDDELL killed in action
News was received at Lesbury House, near Alnwick, on Thursday last, that Brigadier-General J.F. Riddell, commanding the Northumberland Territorial Infantry Brigade, had been killed in action in France.

Brigadier-General Riddell was married to a daughter of the late Sir Henry H. Scott, Hipsburn, and resided at Lesbury House. Brigadier Riddell succeeded Colonel W.E. Sturges in command of the Northumberland Infantry Brigade, consisting of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, in May, 1911, and he left the district for the Front just recently.

General Riddell, who was well known in North Northumberland, had a long service with the “Fighting Fifth”. He joined the regiment in 1880, and served in the Hazara Expedition, 1888, for which he received the medal and clasp; and also in the South African War, from 1900 to 1902. He held the Queen’s Medal and three clasps for the latter campaign.

A keen soldier and strict disciplinarian, he worked hard to advance the efficiency of the Territorials whom he has commanded for the past four years, and of whom he was in charge when he met his death. For some time he was in command of the 3rd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, which was disbanded several years ago, and whose colours now hang in St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle.

Much sympathy will be felt with Mrs. Riddell in the great loss she has sustained by the death of her husband. Mrs. Riddell has taken a close sympathetic interest in the Territorial Brigade, and has done much to secure comforts for its members on active service.

An old brother officer, who had known Gen. Riddell all his life wrote in the "Regimental Gazette":Throughout his life he was a master soldier, no finer company officer ever lived or one who understood his men better . . . no truer hearted or more loyal comrade ever breathed. Always a fine horseman and a very bold one, he was well known in the Cattistock country and in all the hunting fields of the Northumberland he knew and loved so well.

De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour

James Foster Riddell is remembered at Alnmouth on A10.12 in Alnwick on A11.38 and A11.43, in A11.56 page 60, at Lesbury on L9.01 at Warkworth on W16.03 and at Newcastle on NUT071 and on NUT260.

Warkworth War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Brigadier-General Riddell