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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 96

The Great War Memorial Plaque awarded in memory of Major E. W. C. Ridgeway, C.I.E., 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Edward William Crawford Ridgeway), in its envelope and card holder, good very fine

Edward William Crawford Ridgeway was born in December 1876, the son of Colonel Richard Ridgeway, V.C., C.B. and was destined for the Indian Army. Having passed out of Sandhurst, he spent a short time with The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment before joining the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Gurkhas in Malakand in 1897 (Medal & clasp). Transferred to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Goorkhas in June 1898, he thence went on Special Service to the Boer War from December 1901, employed in Command of No. 3 Company of the Essex Mounted Infantry (Queen's Medal & 4 clasps). Returned to the Gurkhas, he was rewarded with a C.I.E. for work as a recruiting officer from 1914-16 before joining the 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkhas in Mesopotamia in September 1916.

Ridgeway was killed at the head of his men whilst rowing a boat at the crossing of the Tigris on 22 February 1917, taking a posthumous 'mention' (British War & Victory Medal Pair; Bronze Plaque). He is commemorated upon the Basra Memorial, with a brass table at St Thomas's, Dehra Dun, which now resides at the Gurkha Museum, Winchester. He is also remembered as a fine horseman and polo player who represented the Regiment, besides taking the Army Cup at Lucknow on his Arab gelding Rajabahadur.

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Estimate
£240 to £280

Starting price
£190