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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Lawton Ridout

In memory of:

Temporary Major William Lawton Ridout

December 13, 1941

Military Service


Service Number:

IA/985

Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Gurkha Rifles

Division:

9th

Additional Information


Son of G. Lawton Ridout and Dorothy A. Ridout, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 615 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Singapore

Grave Reference:

Column 307.

Location:

In the Far East at Singapore, the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL bears, on its columns, the names of over 24,000 soldiers and airmen of the British Commonwealth and Empire who have no known grave. The airmen whose names are inscribed on the Memorial died during operations over the whole of southern and eastern Asia and the surrounding seas and oceans. The SINGAPORE MEMORIAL stands in Kranji War Cemetery. The central avenue of the Cemetery rises gently from the Stone of Remembrance near the entrance, to the Cross of Sacrifice beyond which flights of steps lead to a terrace on top of a hill, on which the Memorial stands. Twelve wide columns bear the name panels and support a flat roof, which gives protection to the inscribed names and shade and shelter to the visitor. Rising through the roof in the centre, to a height of 24 metres, is a great pylon surmounted by a star. On a curved panel at the foot of this pylon are inscribed in English these words:
1939 - 1945 On the walls of this memorial are recorded the names of twenty-four thousand soldiers and airmen of many races united in service to the British Crown who gave their lives in Malaya and neighbouring lands and seas in the air over Southern and Eastern Asia and the Pacific but to whom the fortune of war denied the customary rites accorded to their comrades in death. Kranji War Cemetery is 22 kilometres north of the city of Singapore, on the north side of Singapore Island overlooking the Straits of Johore. It is just off the Singapore-Johore road (Woodlands road) at milestone 13 1/2 and there is a short approach road from the main road. The Cemetery is known locally as Kranji Memorial.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star February 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram February 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of WILLIAM LAWTON RIDOUT– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • St. James Cathedral– The Ridout memorial plaque is located inside St. James Cathedral in Toronto.  The plaque is located on the south wall just through these doors.
  • Memorial Stained Glass– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2415 Captain William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) was the son of G. Lawton Ridout and Dorothy A. Ridout, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Gurkha Rifles, 9th division. He was mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished services in Malaya. He was killed in action on Dec 13, 1941 at 24 years of age. His name is listed on the Singapore Memorial in Singapore.
  • Memorial Stained Glass– 2415 Temporary Major William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) graduated from Royal Military College in 1934. He is listed on the Memorial at the Royal Military College of Canada with other ex-cadets who died in service during World War II. Ex-cadets are also remembered in stained glass memorial windows.

The Victor van der Smissen-Ridout Memorial Award is awarded, in memory of William Henry Victor van der Smissen (RMC 1914) and 2415 William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) to the graduating ROTP/RETP cadet deemed to stand highest morally, intellectually, and physically at the Royal Military College of Canada (based on a vote by the cadets).
  • Memorial Stained Glass– Memorial window, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial Plaque– Memorial plaque for the Lawton family includes a dedication to Captain William Lawton Ridout.  Located in St. James Cathedral (Anglican), 65 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario.
  • Memorial– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2415 Captain William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) was the son of G. Lawton Ridout and Dorothy A. Ridout, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Gurkha Rifles, 9th division. He was mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished services in Malaya. He was killed in action on Dec 13, 1941 at 24 years of age. His name is listed on the Singapore Memorial in Singapore.
  • Memorial– 2415 Temporary Major William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) graduated from Royal Military College in 1934. He is listed on the Memorial at the Royal Military College of Canada with other ex-cadets who died in service during World War II. 

The Victor van der Smissen-Ridout Memorial Award is awarded, in memory of William Henry Victor van der Smissen (RMC 1914) and 2415 William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) to the graduating ROTP/RETP cadet deemed to stand highest morally, intellectually, and physically at the Royal Military College of Canada (based on a vote by the cadets).
  • Memorial Stair– Memorial stair, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial Arch– Memorial arch, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial Doll– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2415 Captain William Lawton Ridout (RMC 1934) was the son of G. Lawton Ridout and Dorothy A. Ridout, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Gurkha Rifles, 9th division. He was mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished services in Malaya. He was killed in action on Dec 13, 1941 at 24 years of age. His name is listed on the Singapore Memorial in Singapore.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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