Name
Nelson Alfred Milton Riddle (DCM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1916
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2098745
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey,
Hastings War Memorial, Sussex
Pre War
Son of John MILTON and Eliza Julia Anne RIDDLE; husband of Elizabeth (nee TILLYARD) RIDDLE.
Nelson was born 1877 in Hastings, Sussex, and baptised 1877 at All Saints, Hastings. He married 1905 in the Uxbridge, Middx, district; they had one child. Elizabeth never remarried, she died 1952 in the Watford district aged 80, and was buried 31 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
His mother possibly married 1881 in the Hastings district to either William Henry BRASIER or William TAPP.
On the 1881 Census, a scholar aged 4 he lived in Hastings, with his grandparents. On the 1891 Census, aged 14 he still lived in Hastings, with his grandparents. On the 1901 Census, a Stoker 2nd Class aged 24, he was aboard H.M.S. Royal Arthur stationed in Sydney, Australia. On the 1911 Census, a labourer aged 35, he lived in Watford, with his wife and no children.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 8 November 1914, and was killed in action during an unsuccessful attack on Grid Trench near Eaucourt l’abbaye. His D.C.M. was awarded “For conspicuous gallantry. After his non-commissioned officers had all been put out of action, he took charge of the platoon and led it to the attack with great bravery and judgement.”
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Nelson’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about Nelson in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 September 1915; the caption to a photograph in the Watford Illustrated dated 25 January 1916; and another article in the Observer dated 18 November 1916.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)