RIDGWAY, Francis Leigh
| Service Number: | 746 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Armadale, Victoria, Australia, June 1889 |
| Home Town: | Liverpool, Fairfield, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | The Kings School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Station overseer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Amman, Al Kiswah, Syria, 28 March 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria Row C, Grave No. 38 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll, Moree & District Fallen Soldiers Honour Roll, Moree ANZAC Centenary Memorial, Wagga Wagga Experiment Farm Great War Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 746, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 746, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marere embarkation_ship_number: A21 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 746, 6th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Marere, Sydney | |
| 15 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 746, 6th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 14 Sep 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 17 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 18 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 26 Feb 1918: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He extricated his section from a very difficult position with great judgment and ability during a night enterprise. He has done consistent good work throughout.' on 26/2/1918 | |
| 28 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Amman Raid (First), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 6 Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-03-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Evans
In the Red Cross files Cpl HJ Ausburn reported that "on the 28/3/1918 the "B" Squadron advanced onto the enemy's position at Amman (our squadron was in support). Everybody in B Squadron was hit - only one man named Ringrose came back. He told us that Lt Ridgway had been hit. Six months afterwards we attached Amman again and took it. We went to search for the men that had been hit in the first Attack. We found them on the ground just has they had fallen. I recognized Lieut. Ridgway by his false teeth and by his tie. He was the only officer there. We buriied him and errected a cross, and put his name on the cross. Lieut. Ridgway was a very fine man - a very good Officer."
Frank Ridgway was a first cousin of my great uncle, Capt Gerald Evans MC (8th Battalion) who died near Polygon Wood on 20th September 1917. Serveral of Gerald's letters home mentioned seeing Frank in Egypt in last 1915 and early 1916. Frank's parents (and perhaps Frank too) had worked on our family property, Redcamp, Moyhu, Victoria.
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