Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Alexander Riddler (Service No:VX61434) initially served in the ACMF (Private; Service No:V11790) with 19 Reserve Motor Transport Coy from 10 March 1941 until he enlisted in the AIF on 21 August 1941, Graded as a Boilermaker and later (1942) as a Blacksmith, Private/Craftsman Riddler served in the Middle East (2 November 1941 - 26 June 1943) with 2 Tank Workshops. Private Riddler was Discharged (medically unfit) on 26 June 1943.

Alex was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1905, fourth of five children of John Alexander Riddler (b1875 in Northumberland, England) and first wife Margaret Campbell (b1873 in Aberdeen, Scotland). John (a Building Mason) and Margaret (a Factory Worker) married in 1896 in Aberdeen and lived there and in Edinburgh, where they raised their family and John was a Building Mason. In 1906 John immigrated to the USA, where he later remarried. Eldest son - Private John William Riddler (Regimental No:4015; 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders) - was KiA in France in 1915. Margaret died in 1919.

Alex (18 years of age) was a Labourer in Aberdeen in 1923 when he immigrated with younger brother Sid (16 years of age), arriving in Melbourne on board the Euripides, Alex settled in Melbourne wher he worked as a Labourer, and in 1934, married Irene Hyacinth Palmer (b1908 in Newcastle, Northumberland) - Irene was a Domestic Servant in 1925 when she immigrated with her widowed mother and siblings, arriving in Melbourne on board the Vedic. Alex and Irene settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and Alex worked as a Boilermaker and Labourer. Alex died in 1971 and Irene in 1991.