Born in Chatham, ON. The son of Andrew and Margaret (nee Askin) Riddell, of 951 Windermere Road, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Brother of Helen, Margaret, Grace, Anne, Winnifred and Flying Officer Robert Gordon Riddell, 401 Squadron, killed in action 5 October 1942. James preceded his brother Bob overseas by four months. 

The Riddell family were well known in Chatham Mr. Riddell had been employed in the printing business before he retired and moved to Windsor, ON. Jimmy was an outstanding athlete, a star football and basketball player at the Walkerville Collegiate as well other teams in the Windsor area after his graduation. 

James had been in a year in November of 1941, Robert arriving in February. The last cablegram the family had received from their oldest son had been several weeks before his death when he was confined to hospital with an attack of malaria fever from somewhere in Egypt.

WO2(P) Was flying with #250 RAF Squadon (Close To The Sun), RAF 239 Wing.

Prior to his enlistment he was employed Ford Motor Co of Canada.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

Found in Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 to 12/08/1944. CWGC. C-K connection not established, CVWM, IOSD, TSGNO

Supplemental Information

Age: 27, DOAA - Date of Death: 03/08/1942, a flying accident in a Kittyhawk fighter #AL 199. He was flying at 250 feet when the aircraft went into a spin. He did not recoverfrom the spin and was killed when the aircraft crashed two miles north of Landing Ground #222 near Cairo, Egypt. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. D. 10. Cemetery: HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY. Warrant Officer Riddell is also commemorated on the Masonic War Memorial in Malden Park, Windsor, Ontario.

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