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Private John Joseph Riordan

Description

TitleJohn Joseph Riordan Alternative NameReardonSummaryA soldier in World War One.DescriptionJohn was born at Racecourse Hill on 5 August 1890, son of Bartholomew and Maggie Riordan. On John’s military file his surname is been spelt in two different ways, Riordan by John or Reardon by his father. The Electoral Roll reveals that from 1919 the family used the surname Reardon, an alternate spelling. When he enlisted John was working as a driver for G. Derritt and Co, Papanui and the reserve roll lists him as a taxi driver. He had previous military experience having served with the 12th Regiment. He was a member of the Courtenay A & P, which passed a vote of condolence to his family. He was 5ft 6½in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

He enlisted 17 August 1914 at Christchurch and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He departed with the Main Body and arrived in Alexandria on 12 April 1915. He went on to serve at Gallipoli. However he was admitted to the hospital ship Gascon on 2nd August and then the General Hospital in Cairo with ear disease. He was sent to London and the King George hospital. He re-joined his unit in Egypt but then sailed for France on the Franconia on 6 April 1916. He was killed in action on 16 September 1916, aged 27. This was the second day of action by the New Zealand forces on the Somme during the battle for Flers. His name is recorded on the Caterpillar Valley Memorial, commemorating more than 1,200 officers and men of the New Zealand Division who died in the Battles of the Somme in 1916, and whose graves are not known. John is the soldier remembered on the Malvern County Memorial as J Reardon.

First NameJohn JosephLast NameRiordanFamilySingleSon of Bartholomew and Maggie RiordanDate of Birth5 August 1890Place of BirthRacecourse HillDate of Death16 September 1916Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27

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CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryCaterpillar Valley MemorialMalvern County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingDriverRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details17th August 1914 at ChristchurchService Number6/802CountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. Seaton

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Private John Joseph Riordan