Pte
Albert Squire Ryder
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 25/03/1880 |
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Place of birth: Amblecote, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Cook |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 159702 |
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Enlistment date: 22/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 20th Bn. (Central Ontario) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 11/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Vindictive Cross Roads, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 37 |
Cemetery
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Poelcapelle British Cemetery Plot: XXI Row: B Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert Squire Ryder, a former cook, was born on 25 March 1880 in Amblecote, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of William L. Ryder and Susannah Bunn and grew up in a family with nine siblings. Albert found work as a glass blower and married Lydia Lillian Plant on 8 October 1899. They had three daughters. In 1906 he emigrated to Canada and, after finding work, he brought his family to join him. During the war he gave up his job as a cook and enlisted in the army on 22 January 1916. He served as a private in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry, part of the 4th Canadian Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Division.
On 1 May 1916, he embarked on the Olympic in Halifax and arrived in Liverpool five days later. During this crossing, Arthur met Albert Squire Ryder. The men quickly became friends. They made a 'gentlemen's pact' in which they each agreed to look after each other's families after the war should anything happen to either of them. They exchanged addresses and each went their separate ways. Private Lloyd served in the 4th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (3rd Canadian Division). Private Ryder served in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry, part of the 8th Canadian Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Division.
The 2nd Canadian Division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, specifically the Second Battle of Passchendaele between 26 October 1917 and 10 November 1917. This division relieved the 4th Canadian Division on 3 November 1917. They made the final assault on Passchendaele sixth and closed the Third Battle of Ypres on 10 November 1917. The 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry were due to be relieved from the front line on the night of 10-11 November 1917, but this move was cancelled. On 11 November, disaster struck.
Albert Squire Ryder, aged 37, was killed in action on November 11, 1917. According to his Circumstances of Death file, he and several others were killed when a shell struck their trench in the front line north of Passchendaele. Private Ryder was initially buried near Vindictive Crossroads at 20.V.30.d.90.70. On 29 November 1919 his remains were exhumed and interred at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, plot XXI, row B, grave 3.
Arthur Lloyd probably participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, although he was on leave in England from 29 October to 8 November 1917. Private Arthur Lloyd survived the war and returned to Canada. Keeping his promise, he visited the Ryder family in St Catharines, Ontario. Arthur Lloyd fell in love with Albert's sister, Violet. As she would later recount, "It was love at first sight. He came to check on us and he never left." The young couple married in St Catharines on 31 April 1920. Arthur Lloyd died at the age of 55 on 29 April 1953. Violet Ryder died on 6 October 1989, aged 86. They are buried together at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
On 1 May 1916, he embarked on the Olympic in Halifax and arrived in Liverpool five days later. During this crossing, Arthur met Albert Squire Ryder. The men quickly became friends. They made a 'gentlemen's pact' in which they each agreed to look after each other's families after the war should anything happen to either of them. They exchanged addresses and each went their separate ways. Private Lloyd served in the 4th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (3rd Canadian Division). Private Ryder served in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry, part of the 8th Canadian Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Division.
The 2nd Canadian Division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, specifically the Second Battle of Passchendaele between 26 October 1917 and 10 November 1917. This division relieved the 4th Canadian Division on 3 November 1917. They made the final assault on Passchendaele sixth and closed the Third Battle of Ypres on 10 November 1917. The 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry were due to be relieved from the front line on the night of 10-11 November 1917, but this move was cancelled. On 11 November, disaster struck.
Albert Squire Ryder, aged 37, was killed in action on November 11, 1917. According to his Circumstances of Death file, he and several others were killed when a shell struck their trench in the front line north of Passchendaele. Private Ryder was initially buried near Vindictive Crossroads at 20.V.30.d.90.70. On 29 November 1919 his remains were exhumed and interred at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, plot XXI, row B, grave 3.
Arthur Lloyd probably participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, although he was on leave in England from 29 October to 8 November 1917. Private Arthur Lloyd survived the war and returned to Canada. Keeping his promise, he visited the Ryder family in St Catharines, Ontario. Arthur Lloyd fell in love with Albert's sister, Violet. As she would later recount, "It was love at first sight. He came to check on us and he never left." The young couple married in St Catharines on 31 April 1920. Arthur Lloyd died at the age of 55 on 29 April 1953. Violet Ryder died on 6 October 1989, aged 86. They are buried together at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Arthur Lloyd
brother-in-law |
Sources 4
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Corrigall, D.J. The History of the Twentieth Canadian Battalion (Central Ontario Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force (Toronto: Stone & Cox, 1935), p. 164. Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1150 - 2). http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ Sources used |
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War diaries: 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume 4930, Microfilm reel T-10730, File 409). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 158). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/492055 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/492055 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=c662033a-1645-46cd-95e3-df1b25023e86 |