DEATHS.
FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE.
RIDLAND. — On November 5, on Hospital Ship Somali, of dysentery, William Thomas Ridland, oldest beloved son of Mrs and the late William Ridland, Patearoa; aged 26 years and eight days. Deeply mourned. -Otago Daily Times, 17/11/1915.
The tragedy of this cruel diabolically conducted war, has come home again to this town, Mrs Barry having received word of the death of her brave nephew, Willie Ridland of Patearoa, of enteric on the Hospital ship. Willie was a fine type of man. He had gone out into the Styx back-blocks to help a widowed mother to found a home. His late father was Mr William Ridland, headmaster of Patearoa school, and his mother a member of the highly respected pioneer Hall family of Patearoa. When the call came this plucky boy and his gritty mother rose to the occasion and whilst Patearoa to-day is full of able-bodied single men with no such ties as Willie had, he has given his fine young life to the Empire. Of such a man Central Otago may well be proud and thank God he did not stand alone. But alas we have others too craven to go. We extend to our life-long friends Mrs Barry, Mrs Ridland (the boy's stricken mother) and the Hall family our deep and heartfelt fraternal sympathy. -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 17/11/1915.
Much sorrow was felt here when the sad news of Bombardier W. T. Ridland's death was reported. He left here last December for training at Trentham and joined the 4th Battery N.Z.F.A., which left N.Z. for Egypt in April; he then joined the 5th Battery. After spending a few months there, he left for the Dardanelles in August, and while there he sent news to his relatives saying that he was quite well. He must have been taken very suddenly ill for before the postcards arrived from him cable messages were sent stating that he had died of dysentery on the hospital ship and was buried at sea on November 5th. Bombardier Ridland was born at Patearoa and spent most of his youth there, also some time in Dunedin, then for three years he settled on land in this district. During that time he made many friends by his kindliness of manner. When war broke out, knowing the need for men, he volunteered his services and gallantly did his duty towards the honour and freedom of our country. He leaves a mother, sister and brother (his father having died when he was a child) to mourn his loss and for whom much sympathy is felt by all. -Mt Ida Chronicle, 26/11/1915.
The list of William Ridland's belongings after death reads as follows: Disc, 3 pipes, shaving brush, diary, 1 pair mittens, 2 cotton bags, 3 postcards, 1 letter, 5 handkerchiefs.
HMHS Somali
Ranfurly Cemetery.
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