Officer's riding boots

Officer's riding boots

A pair of First World War leather riding boots belonging to Captain Richard (Dick) Erroll Wardell Riddiford, OBE MC.

Riddiford served in the New Zealand Division on the Western Front. He performed a variety of roles for the division, including spells as Camp Commandant of the New Zealand Division Headquarters and Aide-de-Camp for the Division's commander, Major-General Andrew Russell. Riddiford was a very capable soldier and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for rescuing men from no-man's-land during the Battle of the Somme. Later he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his 'exceptional ability'.

Riddiford survived the war and planned to return to New Zealand to marry his sweetheart and begin a career in politics. Tragically, he never made it home. He died in England in 1919 after contracting influenza on a ship crossing the English Channel from France.

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dballstaedt

Posted: 24 Sep 2012

I have an a par of these boots left to me by my grandfather with the wood stocks. They are a pefect match to these. If there is a collector interested please let me know.