Reference
Z1214
Title
Wartime papers of Cyril Charles Riddle, donated via Bedford Museum in April 2005
Admin/biog history
Cyril Charles Riddle was born on 28 February 1912 (see Z 1214/1/7) at 6, Britannia Place, Bedford, the son of Albert [and unknown: widow did not remember]. These papers relate entirely to his war service, but it is evident that he worked for London Brick in civilian life (Z 1214/1/3).
When war broke out in September 1939 he joined the ARP staff of Bedford Borough and commanded No. 3 First-Aid party (Z 1214/1/1-3) until he was called up for military service in May 1940 (Z 1214/1/4-5). He undertook his training with the Essex Regiment at Warley from June to November 1940 (Z 1214/1/17) before transferring to the Royal Army Service Corps with whom he served until February 1946. Cyril Riddle was a skilled secretary and shorthand writer, and in late 1943 and early 1944, he worked as the personal shorthand assistant of Brigadier W H A Bishop at HQ of 2nd Corps, Home Forces (Z 1214/1/9). In March 1945 he was transferred to the staff of Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery at 21st Army Group during the last stages of the advance into Germany after D Day. Cyril kept some official photographs of Monty accepting the German surrender (Z 1214/3/7) as well as other pictures of Monty's HQ at Ostenwalde Castle, Melle (Z 1214/3/9). The collection contains a good quality portrait photograph of Cyril in uniform (Z 1214/3/1) as well as several un-named group photographs.
Cyril's work as a shorthand typist was officially recognised with a certificate of commendation signed by Montgomery (Z 1214/1/11-12). In August 1945, by now a sergeant, he transferred again, this time to the Public Relations and Information Services Control Group under his old boss Major-General (formerly Brigadier) W H A Bishop who was head of the Group (Z 1214/1/14-15). Cyril Riddle was demobilised in December 1945 and transferred to the Reserve on 1 March 1946 (Z 1214/1/15-18).
Information from widow: he worked for London Brick at Stewartby for 45 years, retiring in 1975. He was a secretary in the Safety Dept
He appears in the some of the staff magazines in the 1970s (see ADLIB). He died on 8 July 2002, aged 90 years. His first wife, Hilda, pre-deceased him in 1974.
Level of description
fonds