William Ridley Album.

Can anyone confirm if William Ridley served in the Zulu War? Evidently he was their working on constructing railway. I came across this chap whilst looking for someone else.

William Ridley left an “album comprises approx. 67 albumen print photographs, various sizes, the largest approx. 15 x 20cms, including at least 2 personal photographs of Major Bromhead VC, plus a further 2 showing Bromhead posed with the surviving defenders of Rorke's Drift in November 1879 at Pinetown, most images fully annotated with sitters identified, later images showing railway construction including Inchanga viaduct, native groups etc., contained in worn 4to red morocco gilt album, spine defective with crude repair, contents shaken and a little toned, else good”

Unfortunally there is no album shown on the site where I found William Ridley. If any knows or has images of the album please post.

Hi Littlehand

Quote :

Can anyone confirm if William Ridley served in the Zulu War?

I am unable to find him listed on any Medal Roll.
That said, that does not mean that he was not there. It looks like he was a Civilian working for the Railways

Quote :

An album of photographs relating to William Ridley, his family and staff, taken during his placement in Natal for the construction of a railway project during the Zulu war.

Quote :

The two most prominent engineers concerned with the building operations were the consulting engineer for the contractors, Arrot Browning C.E. , who had supervised the preliminary survey in 1873, and the Resident Engineer for the Natal Government Railways, William Ridley M.I.C.E., who arrived in Natal from England in March 1876 accompanied by six civil engineers.

Quote :

William Ridley, a civil engineer, had been associated with the building of railways in India, Spain, the United States of America and Mauritius.

Hi all.
Sent to me by a friend ....The William Ridley album was sold at auction in Sussex last year - I think for £8000. It included the usual selection of landscape and family scenes, as well as a number of groups including officers who had visited the Ridley family on passing through Pinetown at the end of the war. These included two officer groups of the Buffs - one of which has been published before - and the well-known group portrait of B Company, 2/24th, with Bromhead standing blurred on the left. It included a second varient of this photo, not published before, which is largely the same except that Bromhead has stopped moving and is in focus (you can almost hear the photographer saying 'Bromhead! You moved! Right everyone, let's do it again!'). There was also a portrait of Gonville Bromhead, bearded and wearing a patrol jacket, sitting in a garden (presumably the Ridley's) - and another one in the same setting in which he is joined by his brother C.J. There was a group portrait of military and civilians which included Col. Henry Degacher and Gonville Bromhead (both bearded, confirming the extent to which officers grew beards on campaign). There were also two studies of Cmmdt. Baker of Baker's Horse and a number of individual portraits of officers of the Buffs. The album was bought by a private collector.
cheers 90th.

its a shame these photos havnt been made public.. my father has just informed me he would happily of bought this album just to make these photos available to everyone

ciroferrara. It may very well be on public display, just a case of looking for it. I haven't given up and still searching. Might get lucky one day

is it known where in sussex the album was purchased ?

Unfortunately no.

ciroferrara. Came across this.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ukauctioneers/pdf_catalogues/141_no_images.pdf

Look at lot 119. out of my price range.

Hi all.
The Album was sold in Chichester and was on the internet at the time . Wish I had it but alas out of my price range . If the
owner could release it as a book or something similar I'm sure there would be much interest. Unfortunately I have no idea
who the lucky owner maybe . . Hope he's a member or guest on here ! :lol: :lol: . You never know who may
look on these Forums .
cheers 90th.

Very interested to learn of William Ridley album. I am a relative of Arrott Browning, Ridley's predecessor as Railway Engineer, who died at sea of malaria in 1877 having surveyed & started construction on the Durban to Pietermaritzburg Railway, & have much information including correspondence regarding the negotiations in advance of construction if anyone is interested? I wonder if there is a photo of Arrott in the album.

Hi All
William Ridley was a Railway Engineer building Railways in Madras India, South America Rio Tinto Brazil, and the Durban to Pietermaritzburg in Natal. He was born 6 Nov 1841 in Bedlington Northumberland, dying 25 Dec 1916 in East Grinstead District Surrey. He is buried in St John the Divine, Chuchyard, Felbridge, Surrey.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.