Stephen Rydeard

Thornton Cleveleys War Memorial 1914-1918 | Index

Stephen Rydeard was born in Fleetwood in 1884 and baptised on 13 July. He was the eldest of five sons and five daughters of Robert Rydeard and his wife Mary Alice Ball who married on 2 June 1883 at St Peter's Church. The Rydeard family were from Over Wyre, Robert having been born in Preesall, the son of a tailor. Mary Alice was from Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire.

Stephen Rydeard

After their marriage the couple lived in Fleetwood where Stephen was followed by three daughters: May in 1885, Elizabeth in 1888 and Alice in 1890. Robert Rydeard worked as a railway porter. The family moved home frequently living in Back Lane Street, North Albert Street and Wyre Street, Fleetwood before moving to Thornton shortly before the 1901 Census after Robert had become a railway signalman for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR).

Six more children were children were born in Thornton: John (1892), James (1897), Ruth (1899), George (1901), Annie (1903) and William (1907). Sadly James lived for just 8 days and was buried in the graveyard at Christ Church.

In the Census taken on 31 March 1901, Robert, Mary Alice and their six surviving children were recorded at 4 Sunny Wood, Marsh Lane (now Marsh Road), Thornton. Robert was still a railway signalman. Aged 16, Stephen had left Church Road school to become a cooper's apprentice.

In the third quarter of 1910, Stephen married Florence Edwards. Florence was born on 9 October 1884 in Hednesford, Staffordshire. She appears to be the daughter of Edward Edwards, a miner, and Fanny Merrett who were married in 1882.

In the Census taken on 2 April 1911, Stephen and Florence lived at Stanah Cottage on Stanah Road. Stephen worked at United Alkali as a pump attendant. They had two sons before the war: Robert was born on 12 June 1911 and Edward on 24 October 1913 when the family lived at Highfield Terrace (159-171), Lawson's Road. They moved home again the following year to 11 Heys Terrace. Stephen's parents moved to nearby number 7 in the same year.

On 4 Jun 1914 Stephen attested at Fleetwood in the Territorial Force of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He was sent to France on 14 February 1915 and returned to UK three months later. There is nothing in Stephen's service record to indicate whether the reason for his return was for medical reasons. Whilst on the Home Front he was promoted to Lance Corporal (Unpaid) on 8 March 1916 and to Acting Corporal on 16 May 1916.

Stephen was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 24 November 1916. His training was in Lincolnshire, in and around Grantham. Florence gave birth to a third son in Thornton on 5 January 1917. He was named after his father who was promoted to Acting Sergeant with the 175th Battalion, M.G.C. on 23rd of the same month. The promotion was confirmed on 24 February 1917, the day Stephen disembarked in Le Havre with the British Expeditionary Force.

Stephen's father died on 6 December 1917 was he was granted home leave from 8 to 21 December. He returned to France and transferred to the 59th Battalion, M.G.C. Stephen was reported as missing in action on 21 March 1918. On 10 September 1918 his death at the age of 34 was formally accepted. Sgt. Stephen Rydeard, 68279, 59th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), is commemorated on Bay 10 of the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and on the memorial in Church Road Council School.

After the death of her husband and also that of her young son Stephen aged 3, Florence remarried to Joseph Burnhope in 1921 and went on to have a second family.