Alfred Ridgway

Remembered with Honour in the Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.1915 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal.

Alfred Ridgway.

Personal Details:

Born in Malpas in 1890 as Albert Harristt Allman, the illegitimate child of Harriet M. J. Ridgway.(Nee Allman)

Alfred was baptised on 6th (5) March 1890 in Malpas. (There is no father’s name on the baptism record.).

Albert changed his surname to Ridgway sometime between 1891 and 1901.

He first appears as Albert Ridgway in the 1901 census records and is known by that name thereafter.

Alfred married Martha Hughes in 1915.

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Military Details:

Regiment:           1st / 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (previously 3834 Divisional Cyclist Corps and 17900 Cheshire Regiment)

Rank:                 Lance Corporal.

Serial Number:   291681.

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Record of Death:

Killed in action in Belgium on 26th October 1917. Aged 27.

Buried in Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium XLVII.F.2. 47. F. 2.

Alfred died on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium on 26th October 1917 after more than two years on the Western Front.

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Medals and Awards:

Alfred was awarded the Campaign Medals (1915 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal).

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Further Information:

Albert's mother Harriett, married John Ridgway in 1890.

The 1891 census shows Albert's mother, Harriett married to and living with John Ridgway in Wychchough Lane, Malpas.

The 1891 census also records Albert living in Malpas.

The 1901 census records him with the name Albert Ridgway living in Lea Lane, Lea Newbold near Chester.

It looks like he chose to be known as Alfred and we find him under this name in all the military records.

In the 1911 census records Alfred as boarding in Liverpool.

.All the Ridgway children are recorded as being born in Malpas

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Note*

Alfred is not currently recorded on the Malpas War Memorial or any other UK civic memorial.

It is suggested that this could be because the Ridgway family moved away from Malpas prior to WW1, was not associated with the local community in Liverpool or he was missed because of his name change.