James Ridyard served in The King's Royal Rifle Corps and later volunteered for airborne forces.He qualified as a military parachutist at RAF Ringway in August 1942 and subsequently served with C Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion during World War II on operations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Arnhem.

He escaped from Arnhem Oosterbeek across the Rhine with the remnants of 1st Airborne Division but lost a leg as a result of stepping on a mine and was invalided out of the Army.

James Ridyard died in St. Albans City Hospital on 15 January 1984, aged 61 years.