2.3.3.6 John Riddell (1893-unknown)

John Riddell was born on 8 August 1893 at the family home at 48 St. John Street in Coatbridge. He was Oswald Dykes and Annie (Cowie) Riddell's sixth child and only son.  He may have been in the Fever Hospital in Coatbridge along with his sister Henrietta when the 1901 census was taken. The little boy is the correct age and born in the correct place but the last name looks more like Ridden or Riddon so I am not sure.

In 1911 he was 18 years old and lived with his family in Coatbridge at 5 Academy street. He worked in the family restaurant as a waiter.

On 22 February 1916 John Riddell married Mary Forsyth at her home on 70 High Street in Dunfermline. John sold spirits and Mary was a 23-year-old drapery saleswoman. John was a private in the 2/6th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. It was a territorial force battalion, which was renamed the 22nd Battalion around the time of John's marriage.

In March, the month following his marriage, John moved to Maldon and then to Curragh, Ireland, in January 1917. Later the battalion moved to Dublin and back to Curragh in November 1917. It was disbanded in May 1918. John and Mary had at least two sons in Scotland.

By 1923 John was living in Belfast, Northern Ireland and working as a bar man. On 7 April he boarded the Canadian Pacific Railway's S/S Marburn and traveled 3rd class bound for Canada. He arrived on 13 April, landing at St. John's, New Brunswick. He told Canadian officials he was single, intended to settle in Canada and was headed to his sister, Annie Riddell's home at 746 De L'epee Avenue in Montreal.

Canadian Pacific Line's S/S Marburn; image courtesy of Del Campe

That is the last record I can find for John Riddell. Mary (Forsyth) Riddell's died in Dunfermline in 1970. Her surname at the time of her death was Riddell, so I assume she never remarried.

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1901 Scotland Census, 31/03/1901 Riddell Oswald (Census 1901 652/02 027/00 014)
1901 Scotland Census, Parish: Old Monkland; ED: 27; Page 14; Line: 22; Roll: CSSCT1901_348
1911 Scotland Census, 02/04/1911 Riddell Oswald Dykes (Census 1911 652/02 033/00 012)
Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924, Rolls: T-14939 - T-15248, 1923 Riddell, John
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1893 Riddell, John (Statutory Birth 652/02 0955)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1916 Riddell, John - Mary, Forsyth (Statutory Marriages 424/00 0063)
UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Class: BT26, 1923 Riddell, John