Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Pair: Lieutenant L. H. Riddell, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, who was shot down, wounded, and taken Prisoner of War on the first day of the Battle of Amiens, 8 August 1918
British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. L. H. Riddell. R.A.F.) nearly very fine

British War Medal 1914-20 (J. Riddell.) good very fine (3) £200-£240

Leonard Harper Riddell was born in Manchester in 1899 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917. He kept a photograph album and wrote letters home to his parents describing his enthusiasm for flying: ‘I tried my hand at stunts today and attempted three side loops and a spinning nose dive. It’s really a great sensation and gives one a great deal of confidence in both oneself and the machine.’

Promoted Flight Sub-Lieutenant, by March 1918, just five months after he had taken his first solo flight, he had been sent to the Western Front, and was posted to 201 Squadron, flying Sopwith Camels. The level of risk facing him soon became apparent, as his diary entry for 2 April 1918 describes going out on patrol and coming across anti-aircraft fire: ‘Got Archied very badly- heard the bursting shrapnel which indicates that it is time to do a bit of dodging about. Did dodge muchly.’

His luck finally ran out on 8 August 1918, on the first day of the Battle of Amiens. Taking off at 8:30 a.m. in Sopwith Camel D9652 on a line patrol near Bayonvillers, Riddell was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and was seen to crash behind enemy lines shortly after 9:00 a.m. The R.A.F. casualty lists for his day were far higher than any other day during the Great War, especially for 201 Squadron, who had lost seven aircraft. Wounded with a badly broken leg, Riddell was taken prisoner of war and remained in captivity for the rest of the war. Repatriated following the cessation of hostilities, he relinquished his commission on 6 August 1920 on account of his wounds. He died in Yorkshire in 1984.

Note: The recipient’s wartime diaries, letters, photographs, and other ephemera are all held by the Imperial War Museum.