Date of Birth: 
About William Ridsdel
- Commissioner William Ridsdel (20 September 1844 – 8 February 1931 in Clapton) was a Commissioner in The Salvation Army, the second highest rank attainable by Officers in the organisation, and the highest 'appointed' rank.
- An early Salvationist, he joined The Salvation Army in 1873 when it was still called The Christian Mission. Born in Sweden, he was brought up in a "state of semi-heathenism" until his parents were 'saved'.
- Originally a grocer's assistant, he later became a preacher for the Primitive Methodists in York in England but he was largely unmoved by that group.
- Reading about the work of William Booth's The Christian Mission Ridsdel moved to London in 1873 and became an evangelist for that group.
- The organisation later changed its name to The Salvation Army. He became a Field Officer and Divisional Officer in England and Secretary for Work in Scotland.
- From 1877 to 1878 he was in command at Chatham in Kent.
- In 1878 he married Captain Mary Ann Davies (1849-1890), the first female Salvation Army Officer.
- She is buried in Arnos Vale Cemetery.
- By 1887 he was a Major.
- He became a Commissioner in The Salvation Army and Territorial Commander in Sweden from 1892 to 1896.
- He was also at various times the head of The Salvation Army in South Africa (where he met President Paul Kruger in 1900), Norway and the Netherlands.
- In 1894 he married Staff Captain Isabella Mobley (1858-1952). A.
- M.
- Nicol in his biography of William Booth wrote of Ridsdel in 1906: "One of the few remaining members of the Christian Mission occupying a big position in the Salvation Army.
- A safe man.
- He is keen on buying and selling property in the interests of the organisation.
- He has an inveterate love of sermonising, and yet rumour has it that as a speaker he has not proved a Demosthenes. Here is a sad story about the good and faithful warrior.
- Twenty-five years ago Colonel Lawley heard him deliver a sermon from the text " How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" It was delivered with muscular emphasis and much prancing on the stage.
- It was considered a good address.
- Five years ago the same officer heard him preach in another country one Sunday night.
- At the close Mr.
- Ridsdel asked his comrade what he thought of the delivery.
- The text was the same and the wording the same, even the muscular part not being omitted.
- The wicked officer made answer, " William, not so well done as when I heard the same sermon preached by the General thirty-two years ago and by yourself in Plymouth twenty-five years ago." Notwithstanding, Commissioner Ridsdel has done good work for the Flag, and the General will swear by him to the end." He retired from active service in 1916.
- By that time he was the oldest serving Salvation Army officer.In his will he left £573 16s 3d to his widow Isabella Ridsdel and his sons Ernest Bramwell Ridsdel (1881-1939), (a company director) and Douglas Sydney Ridsdel, a Salvation Army officer.Like many other prominent Salvationists he is buried in Abney Park Cemetery.
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