{{short description|English cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use British English|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = | country = England | fullname = Gerald Vernon Newport Ridley | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|10|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Felsted, Essex, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1953|11|12|1897|10|23|df=yes}} | death_place = Chignal St James, Essex, England | heightft = | heightinch = | heightm = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium | role = | family = | club1 = Essex | year1 = 1922–1926 | clubnumber1 = | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 6 | runs1 = 113 | bat avg1 = 10.27 | 100s/50s1 = –/1 | top score1 = 54 | deliveries1 = – | wickets1 = – | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1 = 3/– | date = 31 October | year = 2011 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/19410.html Cricinfo }}
'''Gerald Vernon Newport Ridley''' TD, JP (23 October 1897 – 12 November 1953) was an English cricketer. Ridley was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born at Felsted, Essex.
Ridley served during World War I, during which he was promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant on 28 May 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30777 |date=1918-07-02 |supp=y |page=7854 }}</ref> He later resigned his commission from the 2nd Dragoon Guards on 1 April 1920, retaining the rank of Lieutenant.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31941 |date=1920-06-11 |supp=y |page=6563 }}</ref> Later in November of that year, he joined the Essex Yeomanry, which was part of the Territorial Force.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32140 |date=1920-11-26 |supp=y |page=11771 }}</ref>
In cricket, Ridley made his first-class debut for Essex against the Combined Services in 1922. He made five further first-class appearances for Essex, the last of which came against Somerset in the 1926 County Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5276/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Gerald Ridley|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref> In his six first-class appearances, he scored 113 runs at an average of 10.27, with a high score of 66 not out54.<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5276/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Gerald Ridley|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref> This score, which was his only first-class half century, came against Gloucestershire in 1924.<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11157.html|title=Essex v Gloucestershire, 1924|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=31 October 2011}}</ref>
In September 1930 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration for over twelve years service in the Essex Yeomanry (his service had earlier been placed back to 28 May 1918).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34438 |date=1937-09-24 |page=5959 }}</ref> By 1938 he held the rank of Captain and had been awarded the Territorial Decoration, it was in this year that he resigned his commission.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34493 |date=1938-03-15 |supp=y |page=1752 }}</ref> Outside of his cricket and military service he worked as a Justice of the peace. He was also a member of the executive committee at Essex County Cricket Club until his death at Chignal St James, Essex on 12 November 1953.<ref name="OBIT">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/228428.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1953|work=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|date=4 December 2005 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/19410.html Gerald Ridley] at ESPNcricinfo *[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5276/5276.html Gerald Ridley] at CricketArchive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ridley, Gerald}} Category:1897 births Category:1953 deaths Category:People from Felsted Category:English cricketers Category:Essex cricketers Category:English cricket administrators Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) officers Category:Essex Yeomanry officers Category:Cricketers from Essex Category:Territorial Force officers Category:Military personnel from Essex Category:20th-century English sportsmen