Pte 25467 James William Ryder

• Age: 20
• From: Nelson, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

James William Ryder was born 1st June 1897 in Nelson and his name was registered at birth as James Willie. He was baptised with his older sister Lucy on 5th January 1898 at St John, Great Marsden, Lancashire. He was the son of Daniel Ryder and his wife Mary Maria (nee Day), of 16 Barkerhouse Rd, Nelson. They had married on the 30th November 1895 at St John the Evangelist, Great Marsden. Daniel was a 20 year old carter of 1 Hey St, father Isaac a grinder, whilst Mary was also aged 20, same address, no father declared. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 16, Square, Nelson.  

The father Daniel aged 25, born 1876 occupation Coal Carter and was born in Glossop, Derbyshire. His wife Mary Maria is aged 26, born 1875 in Crawshawbooth, Lancashire. They have four children, Lucy aged 4, born 1897, James William aged 3, born 1898, Lilian aged 2, born 1899 and Rachel Hannah born 1901. The children were all born in Nelson.

After the arrival of another brother, Thomas, in 1902 it looks like his mother may have died, aged 28, during the birth of Gladys, who died soon after her birth on the 7th January 1904.  

RYDER, GLADYS    , DAY   

GRO Reference: 1904  M Quarter in THE BURNLEY UNION, 

RYDER, GLADYS    , 0   

GRO Reference: 1904  M Quarter in THE BURNLEY UNION , 

Deaths Mar 1904  

Ryder,  Mary Maria,  28,  Burnley 

The 1911 Census shows James William living with his widowed grandmother Selina Ryder, aged 70, and uncle Lorenzo Ryder, aged 35, at 1 Elm Street, Nelson.

James William is now aged 14 and employed as a cotton loom tenter. His widowed father was boarding with the Ayrton family at 31 Castle St, Nelson. He was aged 35, a coal filler, with Lucy 15 a cotton weaver, Lilian 10 at school, and Tom 9 at school. 

He enlisted in Colne, Lancashire and was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25467 when he was killed in action on the 23rd July, 1917 aged 20. 

According to the battalion War Diary, on the evening of 23^rd July, the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6^th Battalion Royal West Kents. It is probable that James was killed by enemy shellfire following the relief.

19th Battn. War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET. 

CANAL RESERVE CAMP.  

23rd July 1917 - During the longer part of the day the Battalion rested, a few parades being held during the morning under Company arrangements. In the evening the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents. 

TRENCHES. 

24th July 1917 - Relief was complete by 3.15 a.m. During the day the artillery on both sides were very active, special attention being paid by the enemy to the front and support lines. A few shells also dropped in RITZ STREET and in the vicinity of Battalion headquarters (DORMY HOUSE). 

His body was not recovered, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was reported killed in Weekly Casualty List 28th Aug 1917. 

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Ryder, 25467, J. W. (Nelson); 

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £7 17s 4d, war gratuity £11, and a pension of 5/- pw to his father Daniel, 74 Bradley Hall Rd, Nelson. 

His father died aged 57 in 1933. 

We currently have no further information on James William Ryder, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.