In St. Mary's Churchyard is a family headstone for Lightfoot which reads:-
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:-
Joseph Ridley was born 1895 at Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham, the youngest 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 where 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, they all moved to the adjoining street of Summerside Place. Joseph attended Gateshead Secondary School at the corner of Prince Consort Road and Durham Road, Gateshead and by in 1911 worked as a clerk for an electrical supplier, his eldest brother William was married, Henry Mills was employed as a joiner at the shipyards and sister Mary assisted his mother at home whilst his father continued his work as a waterman.
Joseph Ridley during his service rose through the ranks and served as 2nd Lieutenant, he would however have begun his service as a Private. Enlisted, date unknown, he was assigned to the Northumberland Fusiliers, joining the 11th Battalion whilst it was serving in France with the 23rd Division just a they had been relieved from the front-line sector at the end of January 1916. Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem with the units concentrated around Bruay for a period of rest. On March 3rd 1916 they returned to the front line, taking over a sector between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, with the Artillery taking over an exposed position between Carency and Bois de Bouvigny where it was subjected to heavy shelling. In early March a Tunnelling Company was established and men with a background in mining were transferred from the ranks to the Royal Engineers. In Mid-April, they returned to Bruay area for rest until mid-May when they again took over the Souchez-Angres front, just before the German Attack on Vimy Ridge on the 21st. The brunt of the attack fell on 47th (London) Division, to the right of 23rd Division and the 23rd Divisional Artillery went into action in support of the 47th. On the 11th of June, the 23rd Division Infantry moved to Bomy and the artillery to Chamblain Chatelain and Therouanne to begin intensive training for the Battles of the Somme. They were in action in The Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, The Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Messines, The Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the The First and Second Battles of Passchendaele. In November 1917, the Division moved to Italy as in 1915 the Italians had joined the Allies declaring war on Austria. The 23rd Division concentrated between Mantua and Marcaria before taking over the front line at the Montello, December 4th 1917. In 1918 they were in action during the fighting on the Asiago Plateau which was quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from Grappa to Canova in the Battle of Asiago, June 15th and 16th 1918.
2nd Lieutenant Joseph Ridley was killed in action June 15th 1918, originally buried by his comrades on the battlefield he was brought, after Armistice, into Magnaboschi British Cemetery, Vicenza, Italy and reburied with all reverence and honour, grave III. B. I, February 2nd 1919.
His father received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 17, Stewart Terrace, Felling-on-Tyne. Once his son was permanently laid to rest he commissioned and paid for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Faithful To Death - Felling-on-Tyne - Co Durham - England”.
Loosing their youngest son Joseph increased their existing sorrow, having received one month earlier news of the death of their eldest son, 2nd Lieutenant Henry Mills Ridley, serving with the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, who died at Iseghem, Belgium whilst a prisoner of war, May 23rd 1918. After Armistice, he was brought into Harlebeke New British Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres in Belgium. Awards 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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.
Joseph Ridley is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 at Gateshead on G39.003 and listed at Felling on F32.22
