Search of James Frederick Ryder

Hi everyone,

In 2009 my I bought an old house in Posterholt (the Netherlands).
When we were rebuilding it, we found out, that a soldier died in our cellar on the 25th of January 1945. It took some time to find out who he was. We did some research and found the man.
His name was James Frederick Ryder, service number 4037041, 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry.
We found out, that Ryder was sent on patrol towards Posterholt and investigate, if the bridge (a little further on our road), was still intact. The bridge was blown by the Germans a day before. When they reached the blown bridge, they took enemy fire. Ryder was shot and brought to the basement of our house. We don't know, if the Germans took hem there (they used our house to observe the bridge) or if his fellows brought him there, because it was difficult to take a wounded man under enemy fire back in open field.
He was initially buried a little further on our road, before he's reburied in Jonkerbos in Nijmegen.
I know, that he's a son of Charlotte Ryder, but brought up by his grand parents James and Martha Ryder.
I want to know, if there is anybody, who knew this man, who has a photo from him? Are there relatives?
When did James sign up for the army and where did he fight, before he died for the liberation of our village?

Who can help me?
Paul

 

9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was part of 50th (Northumbrian) division. Take a look at Wikipedia. They fought at every front in and around Europe!

 

Hello Paul,
Welcome to the forum , I have spoken to an ex member regarding your enquiry and he could only confirm what you already have really?

Kyle

 

Just to add Berenice has a couple of relevent war memorial photos here

St Saviour's Church - warmemorials.myfastforum.org

Kyle

 

Note different (wrong?) Army number...

 

CWGC Details:
Lance Corporal
RYDER, JAMES FREDERICK
Service Number 4037041
Died 25/01/1945
Aged 28
9th Bn.
Durham Light Infantry
Son of James and Martha Ryder; husband of Constance Winifred Ryder, of Stone, Staffordshire.

UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
Name: James Ryder
Given Initials: J F
Rank: Lance Corporal
Death Date: 25 Jan 1945
Number: 4037041
Birth Place: Worcester
Residence: Worcester
Regiment at Enlistment: Durham Light Infantry
Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Regiment at Death: Durham Light Infantry
Branch at Death: Infantry

England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
Name: James F Ryder
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1940
Registration district: Tenbury
Inferred County: Worcestershire
Spouse: Constance W Tomlinson
Volume Number: 6c
Page Number: 501

I would suggest that they had 2 children from this marriage:

England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005
Name: Mabel Ryder
Mother's Maiden Surname: Tomlinson
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1940
Registration district: Stafford
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 91

Name: Barbara H Ryder
Mother's Maiden Surname: Tomlinson
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1942
Registration district: Stafford
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 67

I will try and see what happened to them and if they married and had offspring

TD

 

There is one avenue that is stopped in its tracks

England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Mabel Ryder
Death Age: 0
Birth Date: abt 1940
Registration Date: Dec 1940
Registration district: Stafford
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 94

TD

 

Hello Kyle,

I didn't see this form before. May I ask, where you found it?

 

This could be the other daughters marriage details:

England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
Name: Barbara H Ryder
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1961
Registration district: Stafford
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Spouse: Anthony M Harris
Volume Number: 9b
Page Number: 1027

UK, Electoral Registers, 2003-2010
Name: Anthony M Harris
Residence Date: 2004
Address: 23, Amblefield Way, ST16 1SU
Residence Place: Stafford, Staffordshire, England


As they would have both been born around 1940 then they will be approaching 80 years of age, so it is likely they will not have Facebrooky and other media sources that are easily scanned today so finding more details may be difficult. I believe there is enough to be getting on with.
Time for my bed

TD

 

Wow, TD,

thanks for the fast reaction. This is new information for me. Here is a picture of the temporary grave on our street until November 1947.

 

Lance Corporal James Frederick Ryder ( - 1945) - Find A Grave Photos

 

He will have found it at Find my Past

Kyle

 

Hi Kyle,

I already knew that war memorial. There's also a war memorial in St. Michael's Church in Tenbury Wells and you can find his name on the cross of sacrifice there.

Thank you for your help!

Paul

 

Notice on 8RB post three men buried at the same location including another DLI soldier 4460551 Donaldson ? This may be relevant to a future enquiry so I asked a question and received this reply.Relevant?

Kyle

 

Welcome to the forum, Paul.

For clarity’s sake, although the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry had been a battalion of the 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, all through WWII, following 50 Div being broken-up and converted to a training cadre (around 1 December 1944), the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry was transferred to the 131st Infantry Brigade, 7th Armoured Division (The ‘Desert Rats’).

L/Cpl Ryder was serving with the latter Division when killed. The same applies to Pte J Donaldson.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Steve.

 

Parents:

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
The Little Green, Hayes, Tenbury, Worcestershire
NAME DOB OCCUPATION
James Ryder 04 Apr 1859 Farm Labourer (Retired)
Martha Ryder 11 Dec 1869 Unpaid Domestic Duties

Daughter (possibly):

Marriages Dec 1961
RYDER, Barbara H HARRIS Stafford 9b 1027
HARRIS, Anthony M RYDER Stafford 9b 1027

 

See post no 6 & 9

TD

 

Sorry, I'm still asleep. Two children from that marriage do you reckon?

 

Yes 2 - Mabel died at birth or just after, and Barbara H who married Anthony M Harris in 1961

TD

 

Sorry (again)! I meant two children from the Harris/Ryder marriage.