Auction Catalogue

4 December 2002

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

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Lot

№ 1124

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4 December 2002

Hammer Price:
£310

Three: Marine L. G. Rider, No. 46 Commando, Royal Marines

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal, extremely fine (3) £150-200

Leonard George “Spike” Rider was killed in action at the crossing of the Rhine on 23 March 1945, and is buried in a joint grave in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including a letter of condolence from Marine J.S. Poole, 46 Commando, R.M., addressed to ‘Mrs. Hillier’: ‘With these few lines I want to expess my sincere regrets about Spike’s misfortune ... I wish I could have been with him at the time but fate played a game ... when the time comes for me to return to England I hope to come round and see you and the family ...’; another letter of condolence from the Rev. H. Kenner, R.N.V.R., attached 46 Commando, addressed to ‘Mrs. Rider’, which provides information regarding his exact fate: ‘I wish with all my heart that I could hold out some hope of his having been taken prisoner, but I am afraid that the evidence we have is against that. You see your son was a member of the craft which was hit by a shell, just as it reached the enemy side of the Rhine, and your son, together with four other members of the Commando was not seen after that. The enemy were completely disorganised, and certainly not in a position to take any prisoners ...’; and Admiralty certificate confirming the recipient’s presumed date of death as 23 March 1945; a rare 1946 edition of
The Story of 46 Commando, Royal Marines, by Captain P. K. W. Johnson, with related forwarding letter from Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. Hardy, D.S.O., the unit’s C.O., ‘I am sending you this little book on behalf of all ranks of 46 Commando, Royal Marines. It is in memory of Marine L. G. Rider, who gave his life for his country whilst serving with the unit’; and two modern day photographs of the recipient’s joint grave in Kleve, in addition to a copy portrait photograph.