Jimmy Ridland Explained

Jimmy Ridland
Birth Name:Alexander James Ridland
Birth Date:3 March 1882
Birth Place:Invercargill, New Zealand
Death Place:France
Ru Position:Forward
Height:5feet
Weight:153abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Repyears1:1910
Repcaps1:3
Reppoints1:0
Ru Provinceyears1:1907–13
Ru Provinceapps1:22
Occupation:Blacksmith

Alexander James Ridland (3 March 1882 – 5 November 1918) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A forward, Ridland represented at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1910. He played six matches for the All Blacks including three internationals.[1]

Ridland was born in Invercargill in 1882 to William and Margaret Ridland, both of whom were originally from the Shetland Islands. Ridland enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October 1917 and embarked for Britain in May 1918. He was posted to France in September 1918 and served as a rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He died in France on 5 November 1918 as the result of gunshot wound to the head.[2] He was buried at the Caudry British Cemetery.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jimmy Ridland . Knight . Lindsay . New Zealand Rugby Union . 7 November 2015.
  2. Web site: Ridland, Alexander James - WW1 72271 - Army . Archives New Zealand . 7 November 2015.