John Edgar Stanley Riddell (1897 - 1916)

Born 1897 in Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 28 May 1916 at about age 19 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia [uncertain]

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Biography

John was born in 1897. He was the son of John Riddell and Jane Martin. John served as a Universal Trainee before enlisting. Army Service no 40708. Jane signed his enlistment papers as he was only 18 years 6 months and his father was deceased. He enlisted on 1 April 1916 and went into camp in Bendigo with Z Coy 16th Depot Battalion on 18 April 1916. He contracted meningitis the following month and was transferred to Bendigo hospital where he died on 29 May 1916, 8 weeks after enlisting. The death certificate in Army records, issued at Bendigo Hospital, named him as Stanley Riddell, and this is how his death was registered; parents unknown. Cause of death: Cerebrospinal Meningitis, toxic myocardity, cardiac failure. Duration of disease: 5 days. His mother was granted 2 pounds per fortnight gratuity pension, which was claimed by his sister Florence after Jane's death in 1918. (see Florence for this story).

Eaglehawk cemetery records: d 30 May 1916 Bendigo Hospital Age 18 1/2 grave 320 L2.

Sources

• vic birth 27652/1897
• vic death 4572/1916