W. A. Ridout
Service no. 119029
Canadian
Private, Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion
Died on 16 June 1916, aged 30
CWGC: “Son of Mrs A. L. Ridout, of 2 Eythorne Road, Brixton, London, England, and the late Mr W. Y. Ridout. Enlisted Nov.”
Remembered at Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, London

Streatham-born shoemaker Walter Albert Ridout volunteered early in the war. On 12 November 1914 he presented himself to the attesting officer at Brighton and was signed up to the Royal Sussex Regiment, 8th Reserve Cyclists Battalion. His form states that he had lived outside the UK – in Vancouver, Canada – for more than three years.

Ridout, 28 years and 8 months, stood 5 feet 5 inches tall, with dark hair and a dark complexion, with grey eyes. His chest was 34 inches, with 2 inches expansion. He gave his religion as Baptist.

By 17 February 1915 he was appointed acting Lance Corporal; then promoted to acting Corporal on 11 March. By 20 April he had reverted to Private. However, on 25 June he was discharged from the Royal Sussex Regiment to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Southwold, Suffolk.

Information from the censuses

Walter Albert Ridout was one of five surviving children of Walter Young Ridout, a 60-year-old bootmaker and repairer from Dorset, an Alice Lydia (née Plater), 49, “assisting in the business”, born in the City of London. In 1911 there were three children at home, Frederick Ridout, 15, an apprentice bootmaker; Dora Ridout, 13; and Eveline Ridout, 11. All were born in Lambeth. The family lived in five rooms at 14 Robsart Street, where they had been since at least 1901.