Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Riddle, a market gardener born 1846 in Barkby, Leics., and his wife Elizabeth Riddle (nee Kirkby), born 1851 in Sileby, Leics. John Edward was born in 1888 in Sileby, Leics., his siblings were, Almira, a hosiery linker, born 1871, Elizabeth, a griswold knitter, born 1874, Emma, a cotton winder, born 1875, Clara, a cotton winder, born 1876, George Harry, a schoolboy, born 1881, Arthur, a schoolboy, born 1883 and Blay Kirkby, a schoolboy, born 1884, all his siblings were born in Sileby, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Cossington End, Sileby, Leics. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at Swan Street, Sileby, Leics., together with his father, now a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Emma, a griswold knitter, Clara, a griswold knitter, George, a shoe trade finisher, Blay, a shoe trade laster and Esther Rebecca, born 1892 in Sileby, Leics. In April 1911 John was serving as a Private with the 15th Hussars (King’s) and was stationed at Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa. Post 1914 his brother George Harry Riddle resided with his wife Caroline at 114, Leicester Road, Mountsorrel, Leics. On Friday December 11th 1914 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SILEBY’S ROLL OF HONOUR. - A WORTHY RECORD. – It is estimated that between 80 and 100 men from Sileby are serving in various regiments at the front or in the fleet, and the following is a list of those who have already either fallen or have been wounded, or made prisoners:- Private A. Freer, Highland Light Infantry, died from wounds, and buried with military honours at Versailles, on September 30. He was a reservist and leaves a widow at Sileby. Private W. H. Meadows, 2nd Grenadier Guards, killed in action and buried at Rond de la Reine. He was a reservist, and leaves a widow and one child at Sileby. Private E. Riddle, 10th Hussars, wounded. Private Hollings, 1st Leicester Regiment, has been unofficially reported killed. His parents are unable to obtain any information concerning him, and have not heard from him for five weeks. Sergeant Dennis King, King’s Royal Rifles, died suddenly of heart disease in France. Private A. Widdowson, 3rd Coldstream Guards, reported dangerously wounded on the 14th September. Since that date his friends have been unable to obtain any information concerning him. Private B. Riddle, (brother of E. Riddle). K.R.R., wounded in the foot. Private Shuttlewood, Leicester Regiment, severely wounded, and in hospital at Boulogne. Private A. Sharp, K.R.R., and Private J. Dakin, Leicester Regiment, prisoners of war in Gottingen.