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CLAUDE Ridley was born on November 15, 1896, in Sunderland, as the third child of wealthy parents Louis Cuthbert and Eleanor Ridley of Mere Knolls House, Fulwell.
His father, a solicitor, eventually moved to London where they lived in fashionable Royal Crescent at Notting Hill, where he attended private schools before gaining entry to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, as a cadet.
On the outbreak of WWI he received a temporary commission into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) although this was short-lived as he resigned when offered a full commission at RMC Sandhurst. After passing out he joined the Royal Fusiliers but continued his interest in flying by becoming attached to the RFC in 1915. He was awarded his wings on July 9, 1915, at Farnborough flying a Maurice Farman Biplane.
He joined No. 3 Squadron in France where he soon engaged in battles with the Germans. In August 1915 during a fight with two German aeroplanes he was wounded in the foot, which meant that he was no longer able to fly and he returned to the UK for convalescence.
Once fit to fly he was posted to one of the new London defence airfields at Joyce Green to deal with Zeppelin raids. On the night of March 31, 1916, seven Zeppelins crossed the Suffolk coast intent on bombing London. Then they split up causing havoc with bombs all over East Anglia. Zeppelin L15 continued towards London on a path that took it near Joyce Green.
Ridley took off in his BE2c and then caught a glimpse of the Zeppelin in a searchlight. He started to fire his machine gun and closed the distance, but as he did so the Zeppelin moved out of the searchlight and was lost.
A few minutes later over Purfleet the Zeppelin was again picked out by a searchlight and an anti-aircraft battery made a direct hit, splitting the fabric of the airship and allowing gas to escape. Once again the Zeppelin was lost, but badly damaged, it crashed down into the sea off Margate.
The London Gazette on May 16, 1916, records the award of a Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and good work" during Zeppelin raids.
Second Lt. Ridley now became a founder member of 60 Squadron...