|
|
We are trying to find anybody who can remember the Rider family, who lived in South Littleton, near Evesham, Woucestershire, England, from around 1939-1944.
We have two addresses for them during that time:-
"Brook Cottage" Blackminster and Chapel Lane,(now known as Shinehill Lane,) South Littleton.
The family were sent to the area from London as William Merritt Rider worked as a spectacle frame maker for J. R Flemings at Blackminster, a London based optical company who were re-located to the Evesham area for the war.He was also in the 4th Bn Woucestershire (Evesham) Home Guard. He had a birthmark on his face, and was also known as Bill.
Nora Rider worked in the kitchens, we think on the camp at South Littleton, and June Helen Rider, their daughter, went to Blackminster school.She was also a member of Blackminster Youth Club.
Our mother, Carol Ann Rider, was brought up believing Nora and William to be her parents and June to be her sister. However, she has recently discovered that she was adopted by William and Nora, who were actually her grandparents ,and June was in fact her mother. Unfortunately, this discovery was not made until all the above mentioned had died, and there are no remaining family members who knew the story.
Carol's adoption file says that her father is an American soldier,but does not give his name. Her birth certificate also has no name.
We have found out that the 83rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion from America were stationed in South Littleton at this time,and so are asuming that Carol's dad may be one of these,(however Honeybourne Camp was just down the road.)We think that they were from the Southern States of America, possibly South Carolina/Georgia, although we have been told that they picked up soldiers from other areas on their way here. They left South Littleton in the summer of 1944 and went on to France. Some of the pilots that flew the spotter planes remained behind and joined the others later on,(they were known to call themselves "airmen".)
We have been in touch with the 83rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion Association, but so far we haven't had any positive information, as the retired Colonel who runs it has lost contact with alot of the men, obviously some of whom may have died.
The Riders left South Littleton before Carol was born as we know that she was born in Rose House Maternity Home, The Grove,75,Surley Row, Reading, England on 24th April,1945.We do not know why she was born in Reading ,we do not have any known connections there.The home was run by a F.H Turk.
We are also looking for anyone in England who may remember the Riders and could possibly identify our grandfather.
We have a black and white photo of Nora Rider and an American chap named " Oscar ",we do not know who he was or if there is a conection. It was taken outside the Globe Theatre at Stratford -Upon Avon, we think in 1944.Obviously,we would be interested to find out who he was,if he wasn't Carol's father, he would have been about at about the right time and might know who he was. Nora had a friend named Berry, who was married to Wal,(short for Walter.)They had a daughter named Valerie.
If anyone has any information no matter how small, we would love to hear from you as it would be wonderful to find out who our grandad was and our mum would be more than thrilled to find out about her father. Even if you have only got a little piece of information, it may give us something to work on.
Thank You.
dawnyrider27@hotmail.com
|
|
|
