Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Three: Colour Sergeant N. J. Ryder, Devonshire Regiment, later Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (22550520 Sgt. N. Ryder. Devon.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (22550520 Sgt. N. Ryder. Devon Dorset.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (22550520 S. Sgt. N. J. Ryder. D & D.) minor edge bruising and light contact marks, good very fine (3) £360-£440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Nicholas John Ryder was born in Plymouth on 3 September 1933 and attested there for the Devonshire Regiment on 6 March 1951, giving his civilian occupation as a Policeman (Singapore) [sic]. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he served with them at Derna, Cyrenaica, from January 1952. Returning home to Colchester with the 1st Battalion he was promoted Substantive Corporal on 10 December 1952. Emplaning for East Africa, Kenya in March 1953 the 1st Battalion were deployed for operations during the Mau Mau Emergency in the Aberdare Forest in May 1953, and he was ambushed whilst leading a patrol from ‘A’ Company in Molo-Turi area in April 1954.

Promoted Acting Sergeant on 26 June 1954, Ryder embarked with the 1st Battalion at Mombasa in HMT Dunera, returning home on 23 February 1955. The 1st Battalion embarked at Harwich for BAOR Trenchard Barracks, Celle in June 1955 and he was promoted Sergeant ‘A’ Company on 14 December 1955. Changing his engagement to one of 22 years in December 1957 he was present at The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, Amalgamation Day at Minden on 17 May 1958. He subsequently served in Cyprus from 23 November 1958; still with ‘A’ Company, he was based at Kophinou, at the junction of the Nicosia/Limassol and Larnaca/Limassol roads. Following a tour of duty with Wessex Brigade Depot, Exeter he rejoined 1st Battalion, Devons and Dorsets in Cyprus in January 1961 before taking part in a major exercise in Libya in March 1961. Posted next to the Junior Tradesman Regiment at Rhyl in March 1962 he qualified as a Specialist Assistant Instructor Platoon Weapons in October 1963. He was promoted substantive Colour Sergeant 2 September 1964, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in March 1969. Posted to the Junior Tradesmen’s Regiment, Rhyl as Company Quartermaster Sergeant in March 1971 he was discharged to Reserve Staff Sergeant – Pensioner on 2 September 1973 after 22 years and 181 days’ service. He died in Liverpool on 11 January 1992, aged 58.

Sold with copied research.