Biographies

Wing Commander John Ryan Cridland DFC (1910-1943), born Bristol, England

Born 3 December 1910, John was in the family firm called “Cridland and Rose” which made boots and shoes. During the war, as service no 90459 in the Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force), he fought in the Battle for France, trained fighter pilots near Chester, and then was a liaison officer in North Africa. He was killed on 31 May 1943, aged 32, when his Hurricane came down and is one of 2,903 commonwealth servicemen to be buried in Medjez-el-Bab (grave ref 18.D.9) in Tunisia. John played for Clifton RFC, and was one of fifteen club players to lose their lives in World War II. His next of kin was recorded as his father Henry J. Cridland in Stoke Bishop: he left a wife, Jean, and a son, Alastair.

Henry John Cridland (1821-1867), born Somerset, England

Henry was a Civil Engineer, who was born in Milverton, Somerset and emigrated to New Zealand in 1843. One of the architects of the settlement in Kaiapoi, New Zealand, he has a street named after him. More details