Clifford Newton Ryder

Clifford Newton Ryder was born in Double Bay Sydney to Alfred James and Eliza Ryder (nee Lamble).

He attended Fort Street High School, Sydney, NSW. After which he completed a 3 year apprenticeship with Bennett Wood Ltd.

Newspaper records show that he had a few brushes with the law:

POLICE COURT
Clifford Newton Ryder, was charged with riding a motor cycle in the public street without having a license. Accused pleaded guilty and was fined 5/- and 6/- costs.
(Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, NSW – 22 October, 1912)

DUBBO POLICE COURT
At Dubbo Police Court this morning Clifford Ryder was fined 10/ for riding a motor cycle at an excessive speed.
(Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, NSW – 30 April, 1915)

He enlisted as a Corporal on 16th October 1916 into the Australian Imperial Force 941 at Showground Camp, Sydney, NSW. His unit embarked for war from Melbourne on board the RMS Omrah on January 17th 1917. Corporal Ryder was admitted to the ship’s hospital from 13th – 16th February 1917 with influenza. He disembarked at Plymouth, England on 27th March 1917. He was taken to the Australian Flying Corps Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire before being transferred to No. 71 Squadron AFC at Castle Bromwich on 2nd April of the same year.

The AFC Roll of Honour shows him as a fitter on number 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps, killed in an accident.The AFC section of “Airmen Died”  gives Corporal Clifford Newton Ryder, as a native of Sydney, as killed while flying on April 10th 1917. The plane, a Sopwith 1½ Strutter A1113, of 28 Reserve Squadron, crashed, killing 2/Lt John Alexander Williamson and Cpl Clifford Norman Ryder. Cliffords Newton Ryder died at 6pm on 10th April at Ellesthorpe Hospital, Rugby.

On 10 April 1917, Corporal Ryder, flying as a Supernumerary, was fatally injured in a flying accident at Castle Bromwich Aerodrome.  Sopwith Two-Seater aircraft A1113 had been satisfactorily flown previously flown on the day and the Court of Enquiry determined that the accident was caused by pilot misjudgement.  The pilot was Lieutenant John Alexander Williamson RFC who was also killed. (Summarised from Corporal Ryder’s Service Record)

A further account of Corporal Ryder’s death is recorded as follows:

The Squadron’s first flying fatality occurred on April 10th, and by a strange freak of fortune the unfortunate victim was a mechanic, and not a pupil or flying officer.  Corporal Cliff Ryder went up as a passenger in a machine piloted by an RFC pilot.  When near Rugby a heavy snow-cloud was encountered.  The machine collapsed under the extra strain, and both of its occupants were hurled to the ground, with fatal results.

Extract from Richards, E.J. (Edward John) Australian Airmen: History of the 4^th Squadron, publisher unknown, c1919 – Page 8

The crash seems to have occurred in the Ullesthorpe area. No. 941 Cpl Ryder, was from Sydney, and is also listed under 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, which was at Warloy Baillon, in France at the time. He was buried at SS Mary and Margaret churchyard, Castle Bromwich.