Gordon RIDING MM

Badge Number: 1717, Sub Branch: Glenelg
1717

RIDING, Gordon

Service Number: 901
Enlisted: 13 February 1915, Keswick, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Born: Lancaster, England, 1887
Home Town: Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Stonecutter
Died: Adelaide, South Australia (aged 49), 5 September 1936, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Section: LO, Road: 3S, Site No: 43
Memorials: Payneham District Council Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

13 Feb 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Keswick, South Australia
31 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 901, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
31 May 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 901, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide
11 Nov 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 901, 2nd Pioneer Battalion

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Biography

"PTE. G. RIDING.

Pte. Gordon Riding, who has been awarded the military medal, enlisted from Payneham on February 12, 1915. He spent four months on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and, after a brief sojourn in Egypt, was sent to France, where he arrived on April 1, 1916. He is 30 years of age, and a stone cutter by trade. He worked for 12 months on the Government Printing Office, and for eight months on the public school at Murray Bridge, where his wife and child at present reside. Pte. Riding is a native of Lancaster, England, and is one of four brothers who are fighting in France. One is in the Seaforth Highlanders, another in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, and the other, Pte. John Riding, enlisted from Murray Bridge four months ago.

The recipient of the military medal distinguished himself when a youth of 20 by saving a man from drowning in the River Lune, at Lancaster. A party of 10 were skating on the frozen river when the ice broke and they were all immersed in the water. Young Riding went to the rescue, with others, and at the risk of his life rescued one of the party. Three others were drowned. For his bravery in this case he was awarded the Humane Society's medal. On Friday, at a meeting of the Mobilong District Council, the Chairman (Cr. Parish, M.P.) referred to the honour conferred upon Pte. Riding, who had resided in Murray Bridge for some time, and remarked that he had proved himself a hero. Every member of the forces is a hero, and it is gratifying to learn that some of the honours conferred on the heroes have come to South Australia. Cr. Harvey (who has four sons at the front) said that it was enough to spur those on to enlist who were hanging back. Cr. Love— It is enough to make us 'old fellows' wish that we were 10 years younger." - from the Adelaide Register 03 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)

 

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