RIDDLE, James Bertram
| Service Number: | 311589 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) |
| Born: | Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, 7 February 1940 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Machine Operator |
| Died: | England, 11 February 2018, aged 78 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 23 Dec 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Dec 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, Vietnam | |
| 4 Feb 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 4 Feb 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) | |
| 14 May 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 14 May 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, HQ 1st Australian Task Force, Vietnam | |
| 17 Jun 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 17 Jun 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, 9th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR) | |
| 28 Nov 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 28 Nov 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, Vietnam | |
| 19 Jan 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 19 Jan 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, HQ 1st Australian Task Force, Vietnam | |
| 27 Jan 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 27 Jan 1970: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, 8th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR) | |
| 26 Aug 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 26 Aug 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 311589, 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, Vietnam | |
| 23 Sep 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589 | |
| 23 Sep 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 311589, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) |
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James Riddle purchased his discharge from the English Marines for 200 pounds in 1968 so that he could fight with Australia in the Vietnam War. He arrived in Vietnam on the 23rd December 1969- and for the next four years fought in number of different units, beginning with the 4th Battalion in February 1969.
Serving with 12 Platoon, Riddle was involved in a number of ambushes and contacts before a major banker assault in April during which six Australians were wounded. He was promoted to Corporal.
When the 4th Battalion was returned to Australia in mid-May 1969, Riddle and 39 other infantrymen were formed into the ‘2nd D&E Platoon’- a sub-unit of HQ Company. The platoon was tasked with interdicting a major enemy formation in the Thua Tich area.
On May 29th 1969, Riddle’s section of infantrymen opened fire on that large enemy force after Captain Tom Arrowsmith had initiated the ambush outside the gates to thus Tich. This was a highly successful result. When the 2nd D&E Platoon was disbanded in June, Cpl Riddle was posted to the 9th Battalion where he served out the remainder of his first tour.
James Riddle went back to Vietnam again and served with distinction with the 8th Battalion, and the 4th Battalion, as well as HQ Company.
On one occasion he worked with a U.S. Special Forces group under Major Mize- a Congressional Medal of Honour recipient.
The 8th Battalion was awarded the Cross of Gallantry.
Information supplied by James during and after his service.
Was awarded a Unit Citation with 8RAR
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