Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Thompson Ridgway, known as Jack, was born on 16th September 1882 at Drayton, Queensland, the eldest son and the 4th of 9 children born to his parents Thomas and Amy Ridgway.  He had 3 older sisters…Maud, Eva Ethel…2 younger sisters and 3 brothers…Lucy, Charles, Gilbert, Edward and Jane.  After completing his education Jack worked as a labourer.

On 13th October 1915 Jack enlisted for WW1 at Toowoomba QLD aged 33.  He’s described as being 5ft 10ins tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair.  His service number was 4873, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Battalion 15th Reinforcements.  He proceeded to Enoggera Army Camp where he did his initial training, specialising in bomb throwing which earned him the title of “Grenadier.” 

Jack embarked from Brisbane on HMAT Commonwealth on 28th March 1916 and disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 5th May 1916.  He wasn’t in Egypt long before embarking for England on 29th July 1916 from Alexandria on HMT Arcadian.  Upon arrival in England on 9th August 1916 he proceeded to the 3rd Training Battalion at Perham Downs Camp on the Salisbury Plain.  After completing his training there he embarked for France on 21st August 1916 and joined his unit, the 9th Battalion, at Devonshire Camp near Ypres, Belgium, on 7th September 1916 where they were involved in the Battle of the Somme.  Just 5 days later Jack and the Battalion moved to the frontline for a week then were relieved to rest at Halifax Camp, situated between Reninghelst and Vlamertinge.  They proceeded to Chateau Belge Camp 5 days later and then to Dominion Camp in early October 1916.  In late October they moved to Bernafay Wood, France, and arrived at Pommiers Camp near Mametz on 1st November 1916.  A week later they moved up to the frontline at Flers.  Throughout November they moved to Fricourt, Buire, Franvillers then to Bazetin in early December before returning to Flers in mid-December.  Jack and the Battalion spent a cold Christmas in the trenches suffering through one the coldest winters in that area in years.

The Battalion proceeded to Dernacourt in early January 1917 then back to Bazetin in late January before moving to Albert in early February.  The Battalion moved to the frontline on 21st February and, in preparation for the advance to the Hindenburg Line, was involved in the battle of “The Maze” which was a complex of trenches north of Gueudecourt.  It was during this battle that Jack was killed on 25th February 1917 aged 34.  His grave is known only to God. 

Jack’s younger brother Edward, who was serving in France with the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, died of wounds received from a shell blast to the chest and thigh on 11th August 1918. 

After the war Jack’s parents received a Memorial Scroll, Plaque and Royal Letter from the King, which was presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force in WW1, acknowledging his service and their loss.             

Jack is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France which was erected to commemorate all Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during the First World War.  The three walls of this memorial bear the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. 

He is also commemorated in his hometown on the Drayton Memorial Cross…along with his brother Edward, the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour in Canberra and The Mothers’ Memorial in Toowoomba. 

John Thompson Ridgway was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 24th July 2023.