Robert Edward Dudley Ryder (1908 – 29 June 1986) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He later became a Conservative Member of Parliament.

Born in India in 1908, Ryder was the son of Col. Charles Henry Dudley Ryder, R.E. (C.B., C.I.E., D.S.O.), Surveyor General of India. Robert Edward Dudley was a great-great grandson of Nathaniel Ryder, 1st Lord Harrowby . Educated at Hazelhurst School and Cheltenham College, Ryder entered the Royal Navy in 1926 and would serve until 1950. In the 1930s he also took part in explorations, sailing a ketch from Hong Kong to Dartmouth, England in 1933-1934 before joining the British Graham Land Expedition in Antarctica from 1934-1937.

Military career

He was 34 years old, and a Commander in the Royal Navy during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 28 March 1942 in the attack on St. Nazaire, France, Commander Ryder, commanding the Naval force, led HMS Campbeltown in under intense fire. When the main objective of the expedition had been accomplished and Campbeltown had been beached, Commander Ryder remained on the spot evacuating men from Campbeltown and conducting operations while exposed to heavy fire, and did not withdraw until it was certain that his ship could be of no more use. His motor gun boat (MGB 314), full of dead and wounded, survived by a miracle and managed to withdraw through an intense barrage of fire.

Later life

In addition to his Victoria Cross, he was also awarded the Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre, and the Polar Medal with clasp, as well as having four mentions in despatches. Both of his brothers, Lisle Charles Dudley Ryder and Ernle Terrick Dudley Ryder, were killed in action during World War II, the first in the massacre at La Paradis , France in 1940 and the latter in the defence of Singapore in 1942.

Ryder achieved a final rank of Captain in 1948. He commanded the research vessel Penola on the Rymill Expedition to the Antarctic and later served as naval attaché at Oslo

Following his naval career, he entered parliament as a Conservative Party Member for Merton and Morden at the 1950 general election, serving for five years. He died on 29 June, 1986, during a sailing trip to France.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum (London, England).

Reference

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• E.J. Ryder, Antoni Chmielowski

External links

• Robert RYDER of Cheltenham College
• Location of grave and VC medal (Oxfordshire)
• HMS Campbeltown and the Raid on St. Nazaire (detailed description of the action)
• The St. Nazaire Society (Operation Chariot)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.