1
25
10
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41125/MHoldenJ1521290-170725-17.2.jpg
f96f205c672cdbc5973d1ade36cec027
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Holden, John
J Holden
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Holden, J
Description
An account of the resource
30 items. The collection concerns Sergeant John Holden (1521290 Royal Air Force) and contains photographs, documents and correspondence. he flew operations as a wireless operator with 49 Squadron and was killed 10 June 1944.<br /> <br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Andrew Whitehouse and catalogued by Barry Hunter. <br /><br />Additional information on John Holden is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/110983/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Hemmens Story
Description
An account of the resource
A complicated story of how Hemmens was mixed with four aircrew who survived a Halifax crash. They were all arrested on their way to Paris. They were sent to Fresnes prison then Buchenwald where Hemmens died due to medical neglect.
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France--Eure
France--Paris
France--Lyons-la-Forêt
France--Fresnes (Val-de-Marne)
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One printed sheet
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MHoldenJ1521290-170725-17
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
102 Squadron
aircrew
crash
Halifax
Lancaster
Resistance
shot down
Stalag Luft 3
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41104/EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0001.1.jpg
bd848f5205a7c6ec4efd33a6e40ca703
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41104/EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0002.1.jpg
1cbdfb6976983cce85f28978f83b5f57
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41104/EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0003.1.jpg
a6e09804b0bbf8de0b6c28f9b37ca897
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41104/EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0004.1.jpg
f6cb62d5da09177e2a7874126b280570
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Holden, John
J Holden
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Holden, J
Description
An account of the resource
30 items. The collection concerns Sergeant John Holden (1521290 Royal Air Force) and contains photographs, documents and correspondence. he flew operations as a wireless operator with 49 Squadron and was killed 10 June 1944.<br /> <br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Andrew Whitehouse and catalogued by Barry Hunter. <br /><br />Additional information on John Holden is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/110983/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Jose from Leslie Hay
Description
An account of the resource
The letter lists 49 Squadron operations from May 1944 to 10 June 1944 when John Holden died.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Leslie Hay
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1995-08-11
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France--Amiens
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Braunschweig
France--Normandy
France--Wimereux
France--La Pernelle
France--Caen
France--Manche
France--Bayeux
Great Britain
England--Runnymede
Germany
France--Morigny-Champigny
France--Lyons-la-Forêt
France--Eure
France--Rouen
France--Etrépagny
France--Étampes (Essonne)
France--Beauvais
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four printed sheets
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0001, EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0002, EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0003, EHayLWhitehouseJ950811-0004
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-05
1944-06
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription
49 Squadron
5 Group
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bale out
bomb aimer
bombing
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
crash
final resting place
flight engineer
killed in action
Lancaster
memorial
mine laying
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Pathfinders
pilot
prisoner of war
RAF Fiskerton
RAF Woodbridge
Stalag Luft 3
target indicator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41101/CHoldenJ-170725-010001.1.jpg
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1913/41101/CHoldenJ-170725-010002.1.jpg
ca38ba395a19f64e108f1d9b20d46263
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Holden, John
J Holden
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-07-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Holden, J
Description
An account of the resource
30 items. The collection concerns Sergeant John Holden (1521290 Royal Air Force) and contains photographs, documents and correspondence. he flew operations as a wireless operator with 49 Squadron and was killed 10 June 1944.<br /> <br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Andrew Whitehouse and catalogued by Barry Hunter. <br /><br />Additional information on John Holden is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/110983/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
French Topographical Map
Description
An account of the resource
There are two strips of mapping, the first has Puchay, Eure in the East, the second has Morville-sur-Andelle.
The second image is the middle of the two strips.
The mapping covers where the Lancaster crashed and where the crew were shot.
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France--Eure
France--Lyons-la-Forêt
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Language
A language of the resource
fra
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Map
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two printed sheets
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
CHoldenJ-170725-010001, CHoldenJ-170725-010001
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1877/37560/LBennettHW561480v1.2.pdf
a7714f75d3683d270584b511231d20df
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bennett, H W
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-06-20
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Bennett, HW
Description
An account of the resource
19 items. The collection concerns Squadron Leader H W Bennett (Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, photographs and letters. He flew operations with 88 squadron, as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, and as a navigator with 97 Squadron.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Roy Bennett and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
H W Bennett’s RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book. One
Description
An account of the resource
H. W. Bennett’s RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 23 April 1937 to 14 June 1943, detailing training, operations and instructional duties as an Air Observer, Air Gunner, Bomb Aimer and Navigator. Includes bombing and photographic reconnaissance operations with 88 Squadron as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) in France 1939-1940, and later Bomber Command operations with 97 Squadron. Based at RAF North Coates Fitties (No. 10 Air Observers Course), RAF Feltwell (214(B) Squadron), RAF Boscombe Down (88(B) Squadron), RAF Acklington (No. 7 Armament Training School), RAF Evanton (No.8 Armament Training School). With 88 Squadron, as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, he was based at: Auberive, Mourmelon-le-Grand, Moisy, Les Grandes Chappelles and Houssay. Following evacuation from France, bases are: RAF Sydenham (Belfast) (88 Squadron), RAF Swanton Morley (88 Squadron), RAF Coningsby (97 Squadron), RAF Lichfield (27 OTU) and RAF Whitchurch Heath (also known as RAF Tilstock) (81 OTU). Aircraft flown: Hawker Hart, Westland Wallace, Saro Cloud, Short Scion, HP Harrow, Hawker Hind, Fairey Battle, Douglas Boston, Blenheim, Manchester, Lancaster, Wellington, Whitley, and Anson. Various 88 Squadron targets with the AASF are recorded, such as gun posts, bridges, road/rail junctions, enemy troop column, convoy and concentrations. Records a total of 30 completed night operations with 97 Squadron. His pilots on operations were Flying Officer Riddell, Flying Officer Maclachlan, Warrant Officer Rowlands, Squadron Leader Dugdale, Flying Officer Rodley, Flight Sergeant Croppi, Flight Sergeant Crouch, and Sergeant Stephens. Targets in France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Poland are: Bordeaux, Bremen, Brest, Cologne, minelaying Danzig Bay, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Gdynia, Gironde, Hamburg, Kassel, Mannheim, Neustadt, Osnabruck, San Jean de Luis, Trondheim, Turin, Wilhelmshaven and Wismar.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Cara Walmsley
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LBennettHW561480v1
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1937
1938
1939-11-30
1940-01-09
1940-06-06
1940-06-08
1940-06-10
1940-06-11
1940-06-14
1941
1942-01-09
1942-01-10
1942-04-11
1942-04-27
1942-04-28
1942-04-29
1942-05-02
1942-05-03
1942-05-30
1942-05-31
1942-06-23
1942-06-24
1942-06-25
1942-06-26
1942-06-27
1942-06-28
1942-06-29
1942-06-30
1942-07-02
1942-07-03
1942-07-13
1942-07-14
1942-07-26
1942-07-27
1942-07-30
1942-07-31
1942-08-24
1942-08-25
1942-08-27
1942-08-28
1942-09-10
1942-09-11
1942-09-13
1942-09-14
1942-09-15
1942-09-16
1942-09-17
1942-09-18
1942-09-19
1942-10-01
1942-10-02
1942-10-06
1942-12-04
1942-09-05
1942-12-06
1942-12-07
1942-12-08
1942-12-09
1942-12-10
1942-12-17
1942-12-20
1942-12-31
1943-01-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Germany
Great Britain
Italy
Norway
Poland
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Italy--Po River Valley
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Northumberland
England--Shropshire
England--Staffordshire
England--Wiltshire
France--Abbeville
France--Aube
France--Auberive
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
France--Brest
France--Condé-sur-Noireau
France--Eure
France--Evreux
France--Gironde Estuary
France--Loir-et-Cher
France--Mourmelon-le-Grand
France--Saint-Jean-de-Luz
France--Vernon (Eure)
Germany--Bremen
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Essen
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Neustadt an der Weinstrasse
Germany--Oberhausen (Düsseldorf)
Germany--Osnabrück
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Wismar
Italy--Turin
Northern Ireland--Belfast
Norway--Trondheim
Poland--Gdynia
Scotland--Ross and Cromarty
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Poland--Gdańsk
214 Squadron
27 OTU
81 OTU
88 Squadron
97 Squadron
air gunner
Air Observers School
aircrew
Anson
Battle
Blenheim
bomb aimer
bombing
bombing of Cologne (30/31 May 1942)
Boston
Lancaster
Manchester
mine laying
navigator
observer
Operational Training Unit
RAF Boscombe Down
RAF Coningsby
RAF Evanton
RAF Feltwell
RAF Lichfield
RAF North Coates
RAF Swanton Morley
RAF Tilstock
training
Wellington
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2157/37481/PRidingRH21030004.2.jpg
89d9213f1db2de4ecc426452a1308774
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2157/37481/PRidingRH21030005.2.jpg
f9279504f15000fc2b2e59999cfdf4b0
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Riding, Ronald Holford. Album Three
Description
An account of the resource
Four items. Photographs of Ronald Riding
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-09-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Riding, RH
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Therese Del Sole
Description
An account of the resource
A young girl standing in front of an aircraft engine. On the reverse 'Therese Del Sole devant le moteur d'avion env? 1945 a Notre Dame de Bliquetuit'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Eure
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Language
A language of the resource
fra
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PRidingRH21030004, PRidingRH21030005
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2156/37464/PRidingRH21020008.2.jpg
9c6be19e740a7cf2e5fcfecfb879ed42
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Riding, Ronald Holford. Album Two
Description
An account of the resource
12 items. Photographs of Ronald Riding.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-09-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Riding, RH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
HULL TIMES, MARCH 14, 1969
RODE THROUGH ENEMY TERRITORY ON BICYCLE MADE FOR TWO
[sketch] Shot down, he took part in French Resistance raids on Germans
IT IS DIFFICULT to imagine Ronald Riding taking part in armed sabotage raids in occupied France or in any country for that matter. But in 1944 a lot of men were finding that they could do things they had never imagined possible.
Desperate circumstances have always called for desperate actions and when it is a question of survival the quietest people can become very determined opponents.
With his wife Gwyneth and his 11-year-old daughter Lynn, Ronald Riding leads a peaceful unexceptional life at his home at Brocklesby – close First-lane, Hessle.
By day he works as an electrical engineer in the City Architect's Department at Hull Guildhall.
Twenty-five years ago, at the age of 23 Ronald was part way through his second tour of operations.
His first had been in the Middle East, but now, with No. 7 Squadron at RAF Oakington, he was seeing action over Europe.
The Allies were preparing for the D-Day invasion on June 6, and information had been received that the 21st Panzer Division were under cover in a strategic position north of Rouen.
On the night of June 5, Fg.-Off. Riding took off in a Lancaster bomber together with a main force of 200 aircraft in an attempt to flush out and destroy the Germans.
His aircraft was carrying flares as well as bombs, as No. 7 Squadron was then a pathfinder squadron.
As navigator, Ronald would have no time to let his mind wander from the job of getting the aircraft to the target.
All went as planned on the trip to France, and the crew silently prayed that their luck would hold out as they approached the target area.
At 01.00 hours, two hours after they had taken off, the enemy began to become more accurate with their anti-aircraft fire.
Flack was exploding all round the Lancaster, and suddenly the great aircraft recoiled from the impact of a direct hit.
The wireless operator was killed where he sat and the mid-upper gunner badly wounded. In the bomb bay the flares ignited and the aircraft became like a ball of fire.
[photograph]
FO RONALD RIDING
From the pilot came the command to bale out. The question arose of what to do about the wounded gunner, and Ronald and the rear-gunner elected to try to get him out of the aircraft.
Between them they hurriedly rigged up a static line which would open his parachute after they had helped him out of the aircraft.
At the controls, the pilot desperately fought to keep the blazing plane flying until the rest of the crew had left.
Finally, the injured man, by now barely conscious, was dropped into the night.
Ronald watched as the parachute opened, then dismay gripped him as the material caught fire and the gunner, perhaps mercifully, plunged to his death.
The rear gunner left next, and then it was Ronald's turn. He jumped. A few seconds later the skipper followed.
A tug on the ripcord and the parachute billowed out, causing such a jerk that Ronald lost both his flying boots.
He watched as the aircraft, now a mass of flames, careered crazily about the sky. It alarmed him. He thought it might cut back and collide with him.
He watched it all the way down as it passed below him and crashed into a forest.
A few minutes later he was down himself, after narrowly avoiding a watery landing in the Seine. He too found himself in a pine forest and around him were the sounds of guns being fired.
[photograph]
Now an electrical engineer in Hull City Architect's Department, Mr Ronald Riding looks with his wife and 11-year-old daughter Lynn at a map of the area of his wartime exploits.
[underlined] Ominous [/underlined]
Fortunately he had escaped injuries and he hastily hid his parachute before setting out with the intention, somehow, of finding his way home.
Around him were various noises. The most intense was the sound of dogs barking. It seemed as though every dog in the country was loose and terrified.
Then through all the clamour of dogs and guns came the more ominous sound of German troops – Incredibly they were singing.
Ronald set off away from the happy-sounding enemy. He thought of the ridiculous side of the situation – walking, alone, at night, behind the enemy lines and without shoes.
The first building he came to was a farmhouse, and after a few minutes debating with himself he plucked up courage to knock at the door and ask for help.
The farmer appeared at an upstairs window and promptly told him to go away. An argument ensued between the man and his wife, and eventually Ronald was admitted to the dwelling.
He was told that they would shelter him until the morning, but then he would have to go on alone. He was given a meal and later he slept.
At the crack of dawn the farmer sent him on his way, apologising for the fact that he could not let him have any shoes.
[drawing]
The Germans made a full-scale attack on their camp with troops and armoured vehicles.
[underlined] In touch [/underlined]
Throughout the day he stumbled on, keeping to cover in the thick woods of the area. Towards dusk he came across an old woman standing outside her cottage enjoying the evening and smoking a clay pipe.
Without hesitation she invited him inside and together with her husband fed him and found him a bed.
Ronald asked them how he could get in touch with "the organisation" – the resistance movement which could get him back to England.
Later the same day two of the old woman's sons came to see him. They departed after a few questions and returned later with six of the senior resistance leaders.
He was closely questioned, to determine if in fact he was an English aviator or a spy planted by the Germans. The men left with the warning that he was to keep under cover but not to leave the small farm.
For three days Ronald laid low, and escaped detection from the Germans by hiding under a pile of logs when they arrived unexpectedly one day and searched the premises.
[underlined] By tandem [/underlined]
On the third day the resistance members returned and gave him a French identity card and a pair of wooden sabots.
He was then taken from the farm and led to a road where he was shown his means of transport to the next meeting point.
This turned out to be a tandem and the next 15 miles were spent furiously cycling and staring at the back of a very determined French guide.
Eventually at a pre-arranged point they were picked up and taken by car to the central headquarters of the local resistance. This was a large farm with about 200 men living and training there to carry on the underground war against their oppressors.
The camp was quite well organised considering the difficulties under which the men were operating. Ronald later learned that it was supplied by air from England every two weeks with rations and arms, and that it was the training ground of new recruits from the cities.
One of the most noticeable things about the camp was the very young age of the people there.
Youths of 16 and 17 made up the body of the force. There were also two woung [sic] women wireless operators in communication with London.
[underlined] Instructor [/underlined]
The group held 12 German prisoners guarded by Russian and Italian soldiers. As he [indecipherable words] these men were hostages, but at the moment were made to be useful by doing the cooking and minor chores on the farm.
The first question he was asked was would he be willing to help the Resistance. When he replied that he would he was given a Browning machinegun and assigned the duties of training the raw recruits in its use. He was given an officer's rank and settled down to his new job.
All things being considered, he had very little choice. Although he knew that he should be trying still to reach hime [sic], he had the feeling that London knew where he was and was content to let him remain there.
After all, the work he was doing was as important in its own way as the main effort being directed from London.
[underlined] Fought convoy [/underlined]
The group was between 40 and 50 miles behind the enemy lines and the Germans were under constant pressure from the Resistance.
Their main targets were the scout cars and small patrols active in the area, and raids on these were carried out efficiently and regularly.
As they gained in confidence they began to look for more ambitious targets. One night they mounted an attack on a fairly large convoy and miraculously created havoc without suffering casualities.
A few nights later they attacked a battery of anti-aircraft guns, but this time they were not so fortunate. Many of the group were killed or wounded, but they managed to take back with them a handful of German prisoners.
Ronald's main worry was the lack of discipline among the youths with the group.
Prize possessions among the boys were jackboots or Luger pistols. To get these they would go out on their own, looking for solitary German soldiers. These men were killed without compunction and robbed of their possessions.
[underlined] Hostages [/underlined]
Apart from these over-enthusiastic youngsters, however, the group was close and well organised. They also had the support of the farmers in the area, who contributed food supplies often to their own detriment.
It did not surprise Ronald when at last the Germans decided to put an end to activities of the resistance group.
They did this in a way most calculated to bring them out in the open. They took 10 hostages in Rouen and threatened to shoot them if the actions continued.
A party of resistance members attempted to rescue the hostages but the Germans were waiting for [missing words] attempt ended it [missing words] the men were caught, questioned and publicly shot.
[underlined] Over-run [/underlined]
As a reprisal, it was decided to take similar action against the Germans by shooting the dozen or so prisoners held at the camp. This decision was arrived at after much consideration but was never carried out.
Before the appointed time for the executions, the camp was subjected to a full-scale attack by the Germans. At 5.0 o'clock one morning the farm was over-run by troops and armoured vehicles.
The resistance was all but wiped out, and it was every man for himself in the flight that followed Ronald managed to escape with a young French man, but later they decided to split up to give them a better chance of surviving.
For two days he kept out of sight, living as best he could. Then he heard that the British lines were close by and he tried to contact them without success.
The three days that followed were desperate. Nobody wanted to know an ex-resistance man. Word had spread that the Germans were looking for the ones who had escaped, and the penalty for assisting a man on the run was death.
[underlined] Better luck [/underlined]
Eventually he arrived at the town of Thiberville and asked again for help. Here he met with better luck, and for the next three weeks he was passed from family to family, always being kept out of sight.
Towards the end of August there was a leaflet raid on the town, telling the townspeople to leave as the Allied troops would be arriving very soon.
Ronald left with the family who were sheltering him and for the next 10 days camped with them in a small hut outside the town.
On the eleventh day he ventured back into the town and was greeted by a Toronto Scottish regiment marching down the road.
One week later he was back in London, after three months on the run behind the enemy lines.
[underlined] NEWS FROM THE PAST [/underlined]
[italics] Extracts from the Guardian files. [/italics]
15 years ago
SALE and Altrincham Divisional Labour Party members had expressed concern about the effectiveness of the country’s Civil Defence against atomic and hydrogen bomb attacks. They decided to ask Coventry Labour Party their reasons for refusing to take part in Civil Defence services.
*
The Rev Charles Taylor, minister of Sale Trinity Methodist Church and Sale Moor Methodist Church for five years, left Sale for Keynsham, near Bristol.
25 years ago
The National Day of Prayer was observed in all Sale churches, and included a civic service at St. Anne's attended by the Mayor, Ald. J.H. Willson, the Mayoress, Miss Dallas Willson, and members and officials of the Borough Council.
*
Flying-Officer R.H. Riding, 3, Farmfield, Sale, arrived home on leave after being missing since the early days of the Allied invasion of France. In an interview with the Guardian he payed tribute to the courage and fortitude of the French who had helped him to escape.
40 years ago
THE monthly meeting of Sale Council was one of the briefest on record. The only matter to be discussed was a letter from the Postmaster at Manchester concerning the council’s request for a letter box in the Dane Road area. The Postmaster had turned down the request.
*
THE Sale and Ashton Women and Junior Conservative’s annual garden fete, held at Beech Hurst, proved to be the best organised of the season, despite unfriendly weather.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Shot Down, He took part in French Resistance raids on Germans
Description
An account of the resource
A newspaper article about Ron after he was shot down over France. A second cutting has a brief note about Ron returning home after being missing in France.
[The details in the article are incorrect. His aircraft was a Wellington, it was shot down on 14th June, he flew with 69 Squadron]
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Hull Times
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1969-03-14
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France--Eure
Great Britain
England--Sale
England--Hessle (East Riding of Yorkshire)
France--Rouen
England--Yorkshire
England--Lancashire
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings
Identifier
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PRidingRH21020008
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06-14
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sue Smith
7 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bale out
evading
killed in action
Lancaster
missing in action
navigator
Pathfinders
pilot
RAF Oakington
Resistance
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37416/ESenechalERidingRH470115-0001.1.jpg
5f132049a7b51ac07f5a150a3b61af69
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37416/ESenechalERidingRH470115-0002.1.jpg
1d1912cb3f11dab9f27999444149258a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Riding, Ronald Holford
Riding, RH
Description
An account of the resource
45 items and five photograph albums. The collection concerns Ronald Holford Riding (b. 1921, 1525125 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, correspondence, documents, photographs, and service material. He flew operations as a navigator with 69 Squadron before he was shot down in France. He evaded and worked with the resistance before crossing the Allied lines in August 1944.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Lyn Elizabeth Jolliffe and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-09-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Riding, RH
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Ron Riding
Description
An account of the resource
The letter thanks Roland for his card and news, seeking more information about his life and news of John. They are all in good health and good wishes are sent from several people. He is updated on family members, acquaintances and work. Roland is invited to stay in Thiberville.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Veuve Senechal
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1947-01-15
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Eure
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Language
A language of the resource
fra
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One double sided handwritten sheet
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ESenechalERidingRH470115-0001, ESenechalERidingRH470115-0002
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Other languages than English
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1947-01-15
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sally Coulter
aircrew
evading
missing in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37412/ECehwosteGRidingRH480103-0001.2.jpg
52f87a5be7512ab7e667cbc132126fe0
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37412/ECehwosteGRidingRH480103-0002.2.jpg
634b1a84622c1e9cba5377fb6a8ff285
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Riding, Ronald Holford
Riding, RH
Description
An account of the resource
45 items and five photograph albums. The collection concerns Ronald Holford Riding (b. 1921, 1525125 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, correspondence, documents, photographs, and service material. He flew operations as a navigator with 69 Squadron before he was shot down in France. He evaded and worked with the resistance before crossing the Allied lines in August 1944.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Lyn Elizabeth Jolliffe and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-09-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Riding, RH
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Ron Riding from France
Description
An account of the resource
The letter seeks news from Ron and his friend, who hid at their house and recalls several people. It expresses affection to them both while hoping to hear from him.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1948-02-03
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Great Britain
England--Sale
France--Eure
England--Lancashire
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Language
A language of the resource
fra
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One handwritten sheet and envelope
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ECehwosteGRidingRH480103-0001, ECehwosteGRidingRH480103-0002
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Other languages than English
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1948-02-03
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sally Coulter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37407/B[Author]RidingRHv30001.jpg
c921d5e4d46059d6cceef4f9053f4cdd
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37407/B[Author]RidingRHv30002.jpg
87f2766dd1a5ebd36eebaa552e29e369
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Riding, Ronald Holford
Riding, RH
Description
An account of the resource
45 items and five photograph albums. The collection concerns Ronald Holford Riding (b. 1921, 1525125 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, correspondence, documents, photographs, and service material. He flew operations as a navigator with 69 Squadron before he was shot down in France. He evaded and worked with the resistance before crossing the Allied lines in August 1944.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Lyn Elizabeth Jolliffe and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-09-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Riding, RH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] I OWE MY LIFE TO YOU [/underlined]
At two o’clock in the morning of the 6th. June, 1944, a German shell shot down F/Lt. Ronald Riding’s Lancaster. He was twenty-two years old and his mission, on that night prior to the bombardment, was to locate the German 21st. Armoured Division. Three members of the crew were killed when the bomber was hit and four others survived by baling out of the aircraft.
Ronald found himself alone on the ground somewhere near Mailleraye and quite close to Caudebec. He lost his flying boots when his parachute opened so he was in his stockinged feet. Thus began his great adventure. “I walked in my bare feet, which wasn’t very easy, and then I saw a farm. The man did not want to let me in, but his wife standing behind him said “Yes, yes, we must give him something to eat’,”. At daybreak Ronald set out again but he decided to hide up during the day and walk during the night. The following evening he knocked at the door of Mme. Guegan. “She simply told me to come in and she gave me something to eat and drink.”
He stayed at Mme. Guegan’s home for a few days during which time the Maquis, of which Mme. Guegan’s son Jean was a member, were informed by London that Ronald was an English flyer and not a German spy. “In order to establish my identity I had to state where I lived in Manchester and I had to list the names of several London Underground stations.” His identity now verified, Ronald was now accepted by the Robert Leblanc Maquis near Port-Audemer. Infortunately [sic], one of the band was arrested and fearing that he might reveal the whereabouts of their hide-out, his comrades dispersed: Ronald remembers that this occurred on the 14th, July.
After staying for some time at the ‘Maison Blanche’ (a code name?), Ronald and another flyer, John, decided to leave to try to join the Allied lines. Then at the end of July they met M. and Mme. Jules Joigne at Brevedent.
“My father has spotted them late that evening. They were consulting a map printed on a piece of cloth. My father came back into the house and said to my mother, “They are English”. The next day he came across them again and brought them back to the house. I was four years old at the time and my sister was sixteen.” said Guy and Eliane, the children of M. and Mme. Joigne. It was at their house that Ronald and his friend John, were hidden for some time. Then they made contact with the escape network.
MM. Jean Dufay and Jean Breard came to fetch them in a horse-drawn carriage and brought them to Thiberville. “I rode ahead on my bicycle,” recalled M. Prévost. “We came across two German policeman [sic] and I can tell you I was dead scared.” But nothing more untoward happened before they arrived at the home of M. and Mme. Prévost who took it upon themselves to hide them. However, their house was very exposed so Ronald and John decided to continue on their way. They were taken into the convent in Thiberville for several days where their best hiding place was in a cupboard, but Ronald and John kept in good spirits in spite of their misfortunes.
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
They were then lodged at the home of Mme. Sénéchal, first of all at the butcher’s shop in town and then in a small, isolated house where they made the acquaintance of the Vandamme family and of André l’Hotelin: “the children were going to play football with them to pass the time” recalled one who remembered them. The liberation of Thiberville was now near and Ronald and John waited for the arrival of the Canadian troops on 24th. August, and shortly afterwards they returned to England. John was killed on another mission and Ronald continued his operations until the end of the war.
[underlined] MY DEAR FRENCH FRIENDS [/underlined].
On Tuesday, at the time of the ceremony organised in his honour at the Thiberville Town Hall, Ronald Riding could not conceal his emotion. “Thank you all. It has been wonderful to return to Normandy to take part in the ceremonies marking the 50th. Anniversary of the Liberation and to be re-united with my dear French friends. I received the same welcome as I did fifty years ago when I knocked on a door and you said to me, “Come in Monsieur.” I must express my gratitude to the French families who gave me food and concealed me at the risk of their own lives. I owe my life to you. Thank you and Long Live France.”
[underlined] REMEBRANCE AND FRIENDSHIP [/underlined]
In his speech, the Mayor of Thiberville, M. Bessirard, surrounded by his Council, representatives of the Police and Fire Brigade, emphasised the honour for the members of the community to receive a liberator on the day following the 50th. Anniversary of ‘the longest day’. And he added, “It was due to thousands and thousands of people like you M. Riding, and like your parents Mme. Guerin, and like you M. Prévost and you M. Dufay, that we reached this longest day whose success regained for us our honour and liberty and gave us our future.”
Then the Mayor presented the town medallion to M. Riding, M. Dufay, M. Prévost, M. Joinge and posthumously to M. Bréard: “that it shows to all of us a sign of gratitude, remembrance and friendship.
M. Bessirard then invited his guests to join him in a toast to the friendship that was so evident today. Ronald posed for photographs and answered the many questions that were put to him. Ronald’s feelings were a mixture of joy and sadness, but more than this understandable emotion, he was carried away by the joy of finding himself in France again among his dear friends.
May this day remain forever engraved on the hearts of all of us.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
I Owe my Life to You
Description
An account of the resource
The events after Ronald was shot down on the morning of D-day.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06-06
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Great Britain
England--Manchester
England--London
France--Caudebec-en-Caux
France--Eure
England--Lancashire
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two printed sheets
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
B[Author]RidingRHv30001, B[Author]RidingRHv30002
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-06-06
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Steve Baldwin
bale out
evading
killed in action
Lancaster
Resistance
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37406/B[Author]RidingRHv10001.jpg
c554ac2e432dd50a8585712c5d785458
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2154/37406/B[Author]RidingRHv10002.jpg
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Riding, Ronald Holford
Riding, RH
Description
An account of the resource
45 items and five photograph albums. The collection concerns Ronald Holford Riding (b. 1921, 1525125 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, correspondence, documents, photographs, and service material. He flew operations as a navigator with 69 Squadron before he was shot down in France. He evaded and worked with the resistance before crossing the Allied lines in August 1944.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Lyn Elizabeth Jolliffe and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-09-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Riding, RH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] THE JOURNEY IN NORMANDY OF MR. RONALD H. RIDING [/underlined]
In June year 2000 as a result of a brief ceremony of remembrance at St. Georges du Viévre I made the acquaintance of Mr. Ronald H. Riding, a veteran English airman of the R.A.F. who had passed through our region during the war in dramatic circumstances. He spent many weeks here during which time he discovered the "Belle France" to use his expression. This period was however absolutely not the most favourable time to make a visit.
Ronald was a navigator on his second tour of duty in a crew of seven airmen flying in a Lancaster aircraft of a reconnaissance squadron. It had been the duty for several weeks to fly these single night missions over occupied France in order to establish the location and movements of enemy troop concentrations.
Ronald who had volunteered for aircrew in 1941 aged 20 years had trained in Canada to be an observer/navigator. This mission which commenced during the night of the 5th/6th of June was similar to previous operations but it was however to leave a permanent mark on his life.
At 01.30 hours 6th June close to Rouen a shell from the anti-aircraft batteries hit the Lancaster in the middle of the fuselage leaving two crew dead and two wounded. The pilot navigator and rear gunner away from the point of impact were unhurt.
With the aircraft now on fire and having fixed parachutes to their wounded comrades they 'baled-out' from the doomed aircraft which crashed into a garden in La Mailleraye. The rear-gunner broke his leg on landing, was treated in hospital and became a prisoner of war. The pilot, a Canadian, was caught after a few days dressed in civilian clothes; because of this he was tortured in Le Havre by the Gestapo; transferred to Paris for further interrogation and finished the war in a prisoner of war camp in Poland.
Ronald after his jump into the darkness found himself hung up in the branches of a tree in the forest of Brotonne. He had lost his flying boots but he was alive. Before the coming of the dawn, not being able to walk far without boots he found a small forestry workers house. (1) When he knocked on the door the inhabitants chased him away. Their patriotism and help being limited at this time by fear of denouncement to the Germans; The penalty for helping allied airmen being death or minimum deportation to a concentration camp.
The next house where he asked for help was that of Madam Guégan. This brave woman hid Ronald for three or four days. Her son Jean Pierre of 16 years helped Ronald in the forest to find and bury his parachute. Whilst at her house he heard the news of a very historic event, he now understood why his mission to locate the movements of the German Panzer Divisions and observe the crossings of the River Seine were important. Ronald who knew an invasion was imminent had not been briefed and was ignorant of Operation "Overlord"; when he was escaping from his burning aircraft Allied parachutists were dropping at Ste Mère L'Eglise and Pegasus Bridge. The longest day had commenced.
After a rigorous interrogation as to his identity Ronald was taken in by the Maquis Surcouf of Pont-Aude Mer and hidden by their Chief Robert Le Blanc and Section Chief Edmond Floquet (Codename Grande Jules). Our region has preserved its "Bocage"; an area of small fields and woods protected by high hedges and criss-crossed by small roads; paths and tracks favourable for the hiding of the partisans. However it was also an area suitable for the concealment of the S.S. Division and the Gestapo hunting them. The Maquis of Pont-Aude Mer were very active in the region, their technique of Guerilla attacks depended on mobility of movement. Given information by the Gendarmes of the Division at St. Georges du Vièvre regarding the movements of the Nazis, the partisans dispersed and then regrouped to sabotage
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and harass the enemy. Consequently Ronald changed his hiding place three times. He had successive "Residents" at Le Landin near Hanville, (2) at St. Martin-St. Firmin, (3) and at St. Siméon (4) where he met another English airman, a Russian deserter, some Italians and many partisans.
On the 14th July (Liberation Day in France) a "Wartime Alert". The Nazi's commenced a concentrated series of attacks and reprisals in the region. In Pont-Aude Mer they machine-gunned and killed several civilians. In Saint Etienne L'Allier, (5) they searched several houses and arrested the inhabitants. They intercepted and annihilated a patrol of partisans. In St. Georges Du Vièvre they arrested the Gendarmes and for several days they refused under torture by the Nazis pilice to reveal the network of the Maquis. Ronald and John, the other airman succeeded in escaping from the Maquis hide-out and with others found a safe hiding place near to Epagnes. (6) However soon came the final command for a general dispersal of all the partisans so that the Nazis were not able to trace the Maquis.
After several days of evasion, tired and hungry and so far having escaped detection because of their blue workman-like clothes and wooden shoes Ronald and John arrived at the small hamlet of Le Brevédent, (7) about 10 km N.E. of Lisieux. Intrigued by the strange behaviour of these two young men Mr. Jules Joigne understanding their secret and difficulty immediately welcomed them and hid them in his small farm. Once again they had found a "safe house".
At the end of July the Maquis at Thiberville (8) decided to help. For reasons of security they were moved, hidden in a horse and cart, and escorted by two young partisans, Jean Bréhart and Jean Dufay with a senior partisan Gaston Prévost riding ahead on a bicycle to secure the route passing by Barville. (9) On arrival at Thiberville they were first hidden in the workshop of M. Prévost, and then moved to the Pork Butchers Shop of Madam Sénéchal, another brave lady. Finally Thiberville was liberated by the Allies on the 24th August and so finished Ronald's adventure in Normandy.
But the story continues. Ronald returned to England and Became an Instructor. The war was not finished, but fortunately he never again had to use his parachute.
Unfortunately his comrade John after some rest and leave returned to operational duties. During a bombing raid over Germany his aircraft was shot down and he was not given a second chance.
Since the end of the war, Ronald loves to return to Normandy, he appreciates the peace and calm. Few people of our region remember the unknown heroes who took part in the Liberation of our Country. Ronald himself does not forget his comrades in the Resistance or his "French Helpers" who risked their lives to give him shelter. Now when he returns he sees the children of those who sheltered him, they were four and five years old in 1944. They have grown up now and their parents are dead.
Ronald also wishes to remember and visits the many graves of the Allied airmen who are buried in the cemeteries of the small villages where they fell from the sky. He stands and remembers because the remains of his four comrades of the Lancaster have never been found or identified.
It was in front of the Memorial Plaque recording the sacrifice of the four Gendarmes of St. Georges in Vièvre that I met for the first time Mr. Ronald H. Riding. That day in front of the old Police Station there were no more of us than the crew of his aircraft which fell in the forest of Brotonne on "D-Day" morning 6th June 1944.
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Title
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The Journey in Normandy of Mr Ronald H. Riding
Description
An account of the resource
A story of Ronald's escape after being shot down.
Spatial Coverage
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France--Eure
France--Rouen
France--Seine-Maritime
Canada
France--Le Havre
France--Paris
Poland
France--Sainte-Mère-Eglise
France--Lisieux
France
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Personal research
Format
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Two printed sheets
Identifier
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B[Author]RidingRHv10001, B[Author]RidingRHv10002
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
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Sue Smith
air gunner
aircrew
bale out
evading
killed in action
Lancaster
navigator
pilot
prisoner of war
Resistance