The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

Pair: Lieutenant A. B. Riddle, Durham Light Infantry, wounded and a prisoner-of-war of the Bulgarians, who made ‘a plucky attempt to escape’

British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lieut.) extremely fine (2) £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Archibald Bumble Riddle was born in London on 3 September 1888. Having emigrated to Canada with his family, he enlisted at Youngstown, Alberta on 19 November 1914. He enlisted as a Private into the 31st (Alberta) Battalion Canadian Infantry. The battalion sailed from Galgary in the S.S. Northland on 17 May 1915. In October 1915 he was granted a commission in the 2/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was sent to Salonika with his regiment in November that year. The 2/5th Battalion was ostensibly a garrison battalion, but it was decided that they should be employed in the front line. An extract from a 5th Battalion History reads, ‘During the afternoon of June 7th a party of four scouts under Lieutenant A. B. Riddle was surprised and overwhelmed by a strong force of Bulgars. One man, though wounded, escaped and found his way back to our lines, but the others were all wounded and captured. Lieutenant Riddle, while a prisoner, made a plucky attempt to escape in company with two French officers. One of the latter died from exposure, but Riddle and the other Frenchman reached the middle of Bulgaria and were then retaken.’

Riddle’s attempted escape was rewarded with a Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 30 January 1920) - ‘for gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity.’

Sold with copied Attestation papers and other research.