Captain Frederick Ridley MN

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Lawryleslie, Sep 28, 2020.

  1. Lawryleslie

    Lawryleslie Member

    C19A5CB1-530F-4F43-80F1-D94BF08122C9.jpeg Can anybody help with a conundrum regarding Capt Frederick Ridley. He had a very illustrious WW2 career starting as Master of SS Cydonia that helped in the evacuation of civilians from Marseille to Gib in 1940, was sunk on SS Empire Barracuda in the Straits of Gib in Dec 1941 and went on to earn both the Italy and Burma Stars alongside other medals. The conundrum is that he apparently served with the US Coast Guard in early 1942 and nobody in his family knows why. Can any forum pals shed any light on this. Here is his USCG ID Card.....
     
  2. This ID Card may not necessarily mean that he served with the USCG, but may have been issued to enable him to move around in New York without risking being considered a spy... The ID Card does mention that he is employed by the Stanmore Steamship Company, and not the USCG.

    I know nothing about identity documentation requirements for British shipmaster in the US, but this ID Card might be just that, a kind of passport?

    Michel
     
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  3. Lawryleslie

    Lawryleslie Member

    Thanks Michel I hadn’t thought about that and looking at the date on the ID card, 5/1/42, it’s only a few months after Pearl Harbour. Americans security service would have been full of paranoia, regarding any foreign alien with suspicion walking around their port cities.
     
  4. Qu1ckn1ck

    Qu1ckn1ck Member

    My father had a very similar ID pass for Baltimore issued during WW2.
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Yes they were landing cards, to produce if you were challenged as to your identity. In 1955 I was an Apprentice on the La Orilla of Buries Markes, where the Master was a Captain Ridley, I do not have an initial, but suspect that was him. Lawryleslie, I would be interested to know more, especially of his time on the Cydonia during Operation Spirit, the evacuation from the south of France.

    Just thought, the Master I knew was probably Tom Ridley. I am still interested in the Cydonia as I have her as sailing from Gibraltar, but not from Marseilles. I knew that I had missed several f the Spirit ships and like to update my records.

    Roy
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
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  6. Lawryleslie

    Lawryleslie Member

  7. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Captain Ridley appears to have served as follows:

    Captain Frederick Ridley. b.14.7.1903, Newcastle - Dis. A, 1087865
    132062 – COQUETMEDE – 3.2.19
    142586 – TIBERMEDE –
    142857 – MABRITON – 4.9.1922
    140284 – AVONMEDE – 13.12.1923
    Second Mate 5.3.1924.
    145455 – LEASIDE – 11.7.1924
    95908 – MALMESBURY – 11.9.1924
    124324 – MARJORIE SEED – 24.12.1924
    142630 - RIVER HUDSON – 27.4.1925
    145943 – LANCASTRIA – 23.10.1926
    Chief Officer – 29.12.1926
    149744 – SILVERBEECH – 1.4.1927
    149720 – SILVERASH – 7.5.1927
    160418 - RIO DIAMANTE – 22.1.1929
    135488 – EURYADES – 26.11.1929
    147726 - RIO DORADO – 26.2.1931
    145454 – STORNEST – 1.12.1933
    149464 - BARBARA MARIE – 4.8.1939
    148802 – CYDONIA – 28.3.1940
    168178 - EMPIRE WATERHEN - MANATEE-exUSA - 13.5.1941
    124487 - EMPIRE TAMAR – 23.3.1942
    This is not a true record of service as it is taken from various sources including the Fourth Register of Seamen. There will be voyages and ship's ommited. Service from Jan 1942 until discharge from the MN will be held at Kew in a form CRS 10 and also the London Metropolitan Archive where Lloyd's Captains Register is held.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
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  8. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks Lawryleslie, I attach my chapter on Operation Spirit, as you will see I have Cydonia as leaving Gibraltar with passengers, but not the leg from Marseilles. Going through the movement card it shows that she almost certainly went to Marseilles, even though that port is crossed out. She seems to have sailed from Algiers on 21/6, Gib is less than two days steaming from Algiers, and yet she did not arrive there until 29/6. Marseille is also two days away from Algiers, so the ship had ample time to get there, load her passengers, and get to Gib for the 29th. Another unsung hero! Sad it is too late for me to put it in my book.
     

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    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
  9. Lawryleslie

    Lawryleslie Member

    8083DF65-ED23-4943-9FF7-32C1942911DE.jpeg Hello Roy
    This newspaper cutting doesn’t name the Cydonia but at 3517 tons belonging to the Stag Line it can only be her.
     
  10. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Yes I agree, I wonder if the testimonial letter has survived. Time after time throughout the three weeks after Dunkirk you read of Merchant Service officers giving up their cabins for the women and children. 350 was a good crowd, though some had ten times that number! (see Alderpool for example, with about 3,500, mostly Polish citizens)
     

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  11. Lawryleslie

    Lawryleslie Member

    It is strange that the newspaper article quotes 350 evacuees but the Riviera Buzz article suggests 800. Perhaps the 350 refers to British ex-pats whereas the 800 includes all nationalities.
    LL
     
  12. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Have not found the answer to that. What I have is 'sailed Marseille 23 June in convoy P8, arrived Oran 26/6, sailed Oran 27/6, arrived Gibraltar 29/6' That from Convoyweb, which just says, passengers. Seems a tight schedule for a 7.5 knot ship, but Convoyweb is pretty reliable.
     

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