Private James Ridyard

15 Jan 1984

James Ridyard served in The King's Royal Rifle Corps and later volunteered for airborne forces.

He qualified as a military parachutist at RAF Ringway in August 1942 and subsequently served with C Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion during World War II on operations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Arnhem.

He escaped from Arnhem Oosterbeek across the Rhine with the remnants of 1st Airborne Division but lost a leg as a result of stepping on a mine and was invalided out of the Army.

James Ridyard died in St. Albans City Hospital on 15 January 1984, aged 61 years.

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Service History

James  Ridyard

Latest Comments

Jason Woodland said:
James noted in his diary on 20 October 1945 the following: Wounded 1 year ago today at 3.30pm Poppel
Not sure what Poppel means but Jim trod on a German Teller Mine after escaping accross the Rhine after Arnhem getting off a lorry at Nijmegen and consequently lost his left leg (Poppel is a small town just over the border in Belgium perhaps he was hospitalised here before returning to Roehampton)
Jason Woodland said:
Jim Ridyard was my father and never really talked about the horrors of war, but he was in Arnhem and he served under John Frost. He was given a signed copy of the book by Maj Gen Frost, and when he died in 1984 the 2nd Battalion Paras attended his funeral and played the last post. He had a book on Operation Market Garden and made references to his part in this operation. He was very proud to be part of 2 PARA "C" Coy and attended many dinners and functions in the presence of their Colonel in Chief Prince Charles. He lost his leg after the battle by a mine on his way home. I remember as a child a photograph of 2 PARA in which he was included but dont know what happened to this. If anyone can confirm knowing him please post a message or contact editor@paradata.org.uk.
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