Randolph Ridling | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Randolph Gordon Ridling |
| Born | 17 March 1888 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 13 January 1975 (aged 86) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service | New Zealand Military Forces |
| Years of service | 1915–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own) |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Albert Medal |
| Other work | Educationist |
Randolph Gordon Ridling, GC (17 March 1888 – 13 January 1975) was a New Zealand soldier who served during the First World War on the Western Front with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was awarded the Albert Medal in 1919 for saving the life of a soldier during a grenade training exercise the previous year. After the war, he studied at the University of Cambridge and subsequently worked in the education sector in New Zealand. In 1971, the Albert Medal was disestablished by royal warrant as a gallantry award and living recipients were required to swap their medals for the George Cross. Ridling, for sentimental reasons, sought an exemption from Queen Elizabeth II to retain his medal, which was granted. He died in 1975, aged 86.