Robert Edward Dudley (RED) Ryder VC

For great gallantry in the attack on St Nazaire. He commanded a force of small, unprotected ships in an attack on a heavily defended port and led HMS Campbeltown in under intense fire from short range weapons at point blank range. Though the main object of the expedition had been accomplished in the beaching of Campbeltown, he remained on the spot conducting operations, evacuating men from Campbeltown and dealing with strong points and close range weapons while exposed to heavy fire for one hour and sixteen minutes, and did not withdraw till it was certain that his ship could be of no use in rescuing any of the Commando Troops who were still ashore. That his Motor Gun Boat, now full of dead and wounded, should have survived and should have been able to withdraw through an intense barrage of close range fire was almost a miracle. 

Extract from The London Gazette

Name:	Commander Robert Edward Dudley (RED) Ryder VC
Born:	16 February 1908 in Mussoorie, India
Died:	29 June 1986; died at sea, 16 miles off Guernsey coast, while sailing on the yacht, Watchdog.
Buried:	Cremated at  Oxford Crematorium, Headington. Ashes at North of flower bed J8 at the Crematorium.
Unit:	Commander, HM Motor Gun Boat 314, Royal Navy
Date of Action:	27-28 March 1942
Place:	St Nazaire, France
Rank:	Captain RN
Gazetted:	The London Gazette 21 May 1942; Num. 35566, p. 2225
VC No:	1207
Presented:	20 May 1942 by King George VI at Buckingham Palace
Displayed:	The Imperial War Museum, London.
References:	[73]
Connection:	He married Constance Hilaré Myfanwy Green-Wilkinson on 26 April 1941. Her father, Revd Green-Wilkinson had been chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Cosmo Lang, and the family lived at Lovel Hill, Windsor Forest. Afterwards, Constance remained in Windsor while her husband returned to sea. They had two children: a son and a daughter. Robert Dudley Ryder was born on 3 January 1943 at the Princess Christian Nursing Home, Windsor and Susan Myfanwy Prudence Dudley Ryder was born on 14 March 1944 at 10 The Cloisters, Windsor Castle. It was reported that Mrs Ryder was renting the property from the Dean and Chapter of St George’s Chapel.
Awards:	Victoria Cross 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star with clasp France & Germany Defence Medal 1939-45 War Medal (1939-45) with 3 MiD Polar Medal with clasp Antarctic (1935-37) Coronation Medal 1953 Jubilee Medal 1977 Officier, Légion d’ Honneur, France Croix de Guerre (1939-45), France
Notes:	He was Naval Attache, Oslo 1948-49. MP (Cons) for Merton & Morden 1950-55.

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