Northumberland Fusiliers Badge
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
Robert Riddle was born in North Shields, Northumberland about 1888. His parents were George Riddle, a steam sawer from Scotland and Mary Riddle who was born in South Shields, Durham.
In 1891, Robert’s family lived at 184, Linskill Street, North Shields and included the following eight children: Jane, Alexander, George, Margaret, James, Robert (3 years old), Mary and Ann.
Robert was aged 15 in 1901 and employed as a ‘shipyard smith’ when living at 34, South Boldon Street, South Shields. The 1911 Census shows Robert, who is now a blacksmith, and his father living in the house of his eldest sister Jane at 58, Eldon Street, South Shields.
In 1914 Robert married Ellen Brown in South Shields and they had one son also called Robert.
Robert, it would appear, moved north of the river Tyne in search of work and the Record of Enlistments shows him to be resident at Foresters Buildings, Bedlington which is where he was living when he enlisted at Newcastle. Robert was exposed to gas / wounded and died.
Robert Riddle is remembered in Bedlington on B15.06 and B15.26 page 27, where his name is shown as "Riddel", and in South Shields on S86.019 and in the Battalion History
