Orders, Decorations and Medals

Nine: Commander K. J. Riddell, Royal Navy, who won a “mention” for his leadership of at least two boarding parties in the South Atlantic 1939-40

1914-15 Star (Mid., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S. Lt., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, together with a silver dollar of Chiang Kai-shek, the reverse with engraved inscription, ‘D.O.S., Drunken Old Sots Avec Knobs, Hong Kong 1926-27’, and the edge engraved, ‘Life Holder Lieutenant K. J. Riddell’, fitted with loop and bar suspension and four engraved clasps, ‘12.3.1927’, ‘12.4.27’, ‘Ambrose Ch. Party’ and ‘Roman Party’, mounted as worn, generally very fine or better (10) £350-400

Kenneth John Riddell was born in June 1899 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in May 1912. Appointed a Midshipman in the cruiser H.M.S. Lowestoft in August 1914, he was quickly in action at Heligoland Bight on the 28th of that month, following which he removed to the battleship Britannia that October, and thence to the cruiser Courageous in November 1916. Having then served as a Sub. Lieutenant in the destroyer Nith from December 1917 until July 1918, he transferred to submarines, but, having held appointments in assorted ‘E’, ‘K’ and ‘L’ class submarines, reverted to the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in January 1929.

Recalled shortly before the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, Riddell joined the cruiser Despatch on the South Atlantic Station, and was mentioned in despatches for his part in the boarding and capture of the Dusseldorf on 15 December 1939, and the boarding of the Troja on 29 February 1940 (London Gazette 24 April 1940). On the former occasion, and as described in his official report, with the exception of the Captain, Chief Officer and a wireless operator, the enemy abandoned ship in two boats, undoubtedly because they were aware that a time bomb had been set in the Dusseldorf’s engine-room. As it transpired, the resultant damage was minimal, and Riddell soon had control of the bridge and wireless office, so much so that he and his men were then able to re-embark those Germans who had taken to the boats, and order the embarkation of a prize crew from the Despatch.

On the second occasion, a night action on 29 February 1940, the enemy ship, the Troja, was already burning fiercely. Nonetheless, having “encouraged” the fleeing crew to make for the Despatch - ‘I fired a round over their heads to emphasise my orders’ - Riddell took two of his men and boarded the stricken vessel, to see whether the fire could be brought under control, ‘but the whole superstructure was now a mass of flames and the ship was commencing to list heavily and settling’. Of those captured Germans subsequently interrogated, the Second Officer said he had met Hitler, spoke at length of his faith in him and said that he had assisted to build a “strength through joy” ship in the Troja.

Riddell appears to have served in the Despatch until March 1942, when he joined the staff of the Admiralty delegation in Washington D.C. Then in early 1944, he took up an appointment in Capetown, and finally reverted to the Retired List in the rank of Commander in July 1946.