On Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium is the name of 3129 Private Ralph Ridley serving with 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 12/05/1915.

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 the 20th April 1915 he was sent to France. It is likely that Ralph left Newcastle Central Station on the 19th 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 12th 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 on G39.064, at Heworth on H92.03 and H92.08, in the 9th Battalion Book of Remembrance page 35 and in the  D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 116.