“About my
Mother: she was born 25th November 1900
and baptised Gwladys Myfanwy Ryder. My
Grandparents had 7 children - 5 girls and 2 boys. Her Father's name was -
Earnest Edward Ryder - Mother's name Martha Beatrice Ryder.
My Mother
lost her father suddenly when she was fifteen and at that time he was in the
Liverpool Police force. My mother
decided to go to London and she joined the army in WW1, pretending to be older
than she was. Her brother, Ernest Edward
Ryder, born 1897 also joined the army WW1 and was wounded and died 15 months
later
My Mother's
Father was born in Hampshire - Aldershot Barracks - in 1867. According to reports, the family at the time
moved on to India, so there must have been an Army tradition in the family.
My Mother
first married a James Crombie and had 4 children. According to reports he was
not a very good husband and she divorced him
My Father,
Arthur Patrick Ford, born 17th February 1900, also joined up in WWI at the age
of 17 yrs he was sent to Turkey and was attached to a prison camp which he did
not like
My Parents
did not know each other until they met in 1929. They married and had five
children - one of whom died at birth.
Both my
parents became Air Raid Wardens in 2nd war 1939 and therefore, were both
involved with both wars - the children were evacuated to Wales and we went to
live with relatives
I am trying to find a photograph of my mother in her uniform
WW1."
