Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nine: Corporal W. C. Rideout, Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marine Police

1914-15 Star (R.M.A. 11876 Gr.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 11876 Bomb.); Defence and War Medals; Delhi Durbar 1911; Coronation 1953; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (R.M.A. 11876 Cpl., R.M.A.); Police Long Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Const.), together with small silver oval award for the Royal Visit to India 1911-12, and a fine array of Tug of War awards (9), dating from 1921 to 1927, comprising Royal Tournament issues (6), two in silver and four in bronze, and three for R.A.F. meetings, these in silver, all but one with engraved details and in fitted case of issue, the earlier awards with contact marks and edge nicks, but otherwise generally very fine or better and rare (Lot) £350-400

William Charles Rideout was born at Blandford, Somerset in August 1888 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in October 1906. Advanced to Gunner in September 1907, he was one of those men landed from H.M.S. Medina to form the R.N. Guard of Honour at Delhi in 1911 and subsequently became one of around 110 Royal Marines to be awarded the appropriate Medal (service record refers). By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Rideout was serving aboard the battleship St. Vincent, in which ship he remained until August 1916, and consequently shared in her honours at the Battle of Jutland when she formed part of the 1st Battle Squadron, under Rear-Admiral E. F. A. Gaunt, R.N.; and his second and final wartime seagoing appointment was aboard the battleship Ramillies from June 1917 until October 1918, latterly in the rank of Corporal.

Awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1922, Rideout was discharged to the Royal Fleet Reserve in October 1927, but quickly found employment in the Royal Marine Police, transferring to the Portsmouth branch of that corps in May 1935. He was, however, awarded his Coronation 1953 Medal while employed as a Constable in the Admiralty Constabulary at the R.N. Cordite Factory, Holton Heath (official roll refers).