Can anybody help with a conundrum regarding Capt Frederick Ridley. He had a very illustrious WW2 career starting as Master of SS Cydonia that helped in the evacuation of civilians from Marseille to Gib in 1940, was sunk on SS Empire Barracuda in the Straits of Gib in Dec 1941 and went on to earn both the Italy and Burma Stars alongside other medals. The conundrum is that he apparently served with the US Coast Guard in early 1942 and nobody in his family knows why. Can any forum pals shed any light on this. Here is his USCG ID Card.....
This ID Card may not necessarily mean that he served with the USCG, but may have been issued to enable him to move around in New York without risking being considered a spy... The ID Card does mention that he is employed by the Stanmore Steamship Company, and not the USCG. I know nothing about identity documentation requirements for British shipmaster in the US, but this ID Card might be just that, a kind of passport? Michel
Thanks Michel I hadn’t thought about that and looking at the date on the ID card, 5/1/42, it’s only a few months after Pearl Harbour. Americans security service would have been full of paranoia, regarding any foreign alien with suspicion walking around their port cities.
Yes they were landing cards, to produce if you were challenged as to your identity. In 1955 I was an Apprentice on the La Orilla of Buries Markes, where the Master was a Captain Ridley, I do not have an initial, but suspect that was him. Lawryleslie, I would be interested to know more, especially of his time on the Cydonia during Operation Spirit, the evacuation from the south of France. Just thought, the Master I knew was probably Tom Ridley. I am still interested in the Cydonia as I have her as sailing from Gibraltar, but not from Marseilles. I knew that I had missed several f the Spirit ships and like to update my records. Roy
Hello Roy these links will be of interest https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/downloadorder/download?ordernumber=I/105528046507252V&iaid=D8650112&reference=BT%20389/9/33 1940: The First Brexit | Riviera Buzz
Captain Ridley appears to have served as follows: Captain Frederick Ridley. b.14.7.1903, Newcastle - Dis. A, 1087865 132062 – COQUETMEDE – 3.2.19 142586 – TIBERMEDE – 142857 – MABRITON – 4.9.1922 140284 – AVONMEDE – 13.12.1923 Second Mate 5.3.1924. 145455 – LEASIDE – 11.7.1924 95908 – MALMESBURY – 11.9.1924 124324 – MARJORIE SEED – 24.12.1924 142630 - RIVER HUDSON – 27.4.1925 145943 – LANCASTRIA – 23.10.1926 Chief Officer – 29.12.1926 149744 – SILVERBEECH – 1.4.1927 149720 – SILVERASH – 7.5.1927 160418 - RIO DIAMANTE – 22.1.1929 135488 – EURYADES – 26.11.1929 147726 - RIO DORADO – 26.2.1931 145454 – STORNEST – 1.12.1933 149464 - BARBARA MARIE – 4.8.1939 148802 – CYDONIA – 28.3.1940 168178 - EMPIRE WATERHEN - MANATEE-exUSA - 13.5.1941 124487 - EMPIRE TAMAR – 23.3.1942 This is not a true record of service as it is taken from various sources including the Fourth Register of Seamen. There will be voyages and ship's ommited. Service from Jan 1942 until discharge from the MN will be held at Kew in a form CRS 10 and also the London Metropolitan Archive where Lloyd's Captains Register is held. Regards Hugh
Thanks Lawryleslie, I attach my chapter on Operation Spirit, as you will see I have Cydonia as leaving Gibraltar with passengers, but not the leg from Marseilles. Going through the movement card it shows that she almost certainly went to Marseilles, even though that port is crossed out. She seems to have sailed from Algiers on 21/6, Gib is less than two days steaming from Algiers, and yet she did not arrive there until 29/6. Marseille is also two days away from Algiers, so the ship had ample time to get there, load her passengers, and get to Gib for the 29th. Another unsung hero! Sad it is too late for me to put it in my book.
Hello Roy This newspaper cutting doesn’t name the Cydonia but at 3517 tons belonging to the Stag Line it can only be her.
Yes I agree, I wonder if the testimonial letter has survived. Time after time throughout the three weeks after Dunkirk you read of Merchant Service officers giving up their cabins for the women and children. 350 was a good crowd, though some had ten times that number! (see Alderpool for example, with about 3,500, mostly Polish citizens)
It is strange that the newspaper article quotes 350 evacuees but the Riviera Buzz article suggests 800. Perhaps the 350 refers to British ex-pats whereas the 800 includes all nationalities. LL
Have not found the answer to that. What I have is 'sailed Marseille 23 June in convoy P8, arrived Oran 26/6, sailed Oran 27/6, arrived Gibraltar 29/6' That from Convoyweb, which just says, passengers. Seems a tight schedule for a 7.5 knot ship, but Convoyweb is pretty reliable.