Company Sergeant Major George W Rider

Recollections of her grandfather by Mandy Potter

"My Grandad, CSM George Rider, was born in Hackney, East London in 1907. He was the eldest of 10 children born to Alfred and Mary Rider. At the age of 20, he joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served for the next 9 years with the 52nd in India and Burma.

He married my Nan in 1936 and his daughter (my Mum) was born in 1937. He left the army to become a French Polisher, following his father's occupation.

At the outbreak of the second World War, George was aged 33 years and he was mobilised with the 1st Battalion Oxf & Bucks to France with the BEF. He was involved with the Battle of Ypres-Comines Canal before making it off the

Dunkirk Mole and back to Blighty. He then transferred to the 2nd Battalion Ox and Bucks (A Company) which became a gliderborne unit. After over a year of training and preparation, on D.Day 6 June 1944, my Grandad boarded a glider at Harwell Airfield to his landing zone LZ 'W', St Aubin D'Arquenay, Normandy. Upon landing, he along with the rest of the 2nd (52nd) Ox and Bucks assembled at Pegasus Bridge and advanced through Ranville, Herouvillette, Escoville and onwards.

George made it through the Normandy Campaign and returned for some home leave on 4 September 1944, before taking part in the fighting in the Ardennes - The Battle Of The Bulge.

On 24 March 1945, my Grandad once again boarded a glider from Birch Airfield, Essex to Hamminkeln, Germany in Operation Varsity, the Rhine Crossing.

This Operation was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location. The 2nd Oxf & Bucks (52nd) suffered 50% casualties during this operation. There is a memorial to the 52nd Light Infantry in Hamminkeln.

George had made it to Bad Kleinen, Germany by 3 May 1945 when the ceasefire took effect.

George returned home to England on 1 July 1945. He was finally discharged from all army service on 10 February 1954.

After the War, my Grandad worked for the Post Office (GPO) installing and maintaining telephone lines and exchanges. A job he carried out until his retirement. He died in 1988 and his ashes along with my Nan's are together in the City Of London Cemetery and Crematorium.

My Grandad lived until he was 80 years old and we always attended Remembrance Parades together.  

He told me that as he was a mature, wise and seasoned old soldier from the days of India and the Burma uprisings (1931-33), that this stood him in good steed for the battles he would face. He said the youngsters didn't stand a chance. He spoke to me of places - Dunkirk, Pegasus Bridge, Benouville, Ranville, Escoville and Herouvillette, of the Horsa Gliders, taught me Morse Code on a teacup but never spoke of personal or battle experiences from the War.

George was always immensely proud of the Ox and Bucks, as we, his family, are of him. He is my Hero."