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261327 RSM. Arthur Frederick Ridout British Army 19th (County of London) Btn. London Regiment from:136 Links Road, Tooting Junction, London (d.15th Sep 1916) Arthur Ridout was my great-great-grandmother's son by her second marriage. He was very close to his half brothers and sisters being from a farming family in Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset. In 1911, he married Ella who was a great friend of Arthur's sister Minnie Ridout, who was also courting a soldier (a friend of her brother Arthur) and was engaged to be married to him. He enlisted on 5th September 1914 at Camden Town. On 9th March 1915 he was sent to France with the 1st Battalion. He landed in France with one stripe and gained promotions through merit, being promoted to Sergeant in Loos and then to CSM of D Company. He was very well liked from all accounts. He became RSM in May 1916. He died in battle on 15th September 1916 at High Wood, Longueval, Somme, France. He is buried at the London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval and commemorated on the Mitcham War Memorial and also at Shillingstone, Dorset War Memorial. His sister Minnie Ridout also lost her fiancé during the First World War and she never married. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**