317 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND RICHARDS, John Thomas John was born in London, England, on May 23, 1925. He immigrated to Canada and was employed as a machinist. Enlisting in the RCAF in June 1943, John completed basic training and served during World War II in Tofino, Comox, Vancouver, and Calgary. He completed pilot qualification in March 1945, was honourably released, and transferred to the RCAF Reserves in May 1945. He re-enlisted and attested as a pilot with the RCAF in December 1950, graduating RMC officer training in 1951. John was posted to several locations in Ontario and Gimli, Manitoba before overseas postings in Zweibrücken, Germany, and Sardinia flying the Sabre. He returned to Canada in 1960 with postings at RCAF bases in Cold Lake, St Hubert, and Uplands. Service included periods flying CF100 with RCAF Squadrons 410 and 416, final service with 410 flying CF-101 “Voodoo” jets out of Uplands. John was then an editor at “Flight Comment” magazine at NDHQ. He was released from active service in April 1970 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He received standard service medals from WWII and post war, and in 1994 received a Special Service Medal for his contribution to NATO. John passed away in Carleton Place on June 19, 2012. RIDER, Frank Charlie Frank was born in Weissenburg, Ontario on October 23, 1894, to Joseph J. and Mary (Lehman) Rider. He had eleven siblings: Alfred, Minnie, Maria, Pearl, Marion, Joseph, Margaret (Maggie), William, Anna, Elizabeth, and John. He was working in Western Canada as a farm hand when on March 31, 1916, he enlisted with 229th Battalion. In France, he was posted to the 46th Battalion. On October 26, 1917, at Passchendaele, Frank was seriously injured in a penetrating bomb blast that ripped open his abdomen. On November 11, 1917, he was listed as seriously ill which resulted in being hospitalized for a year. On December 4, 1918, he was shipped to Canada aboard the SS Northland to the #2 District Depot (Toronto) and was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and discharged as medically unfit for military purposes on January 12, 1919. Frank married Catherine (Seitz). He passed away at the St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital in Guelph on June 13, 1980, in his 86th year and is buried in the Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery in Maryhill, Ontario. RIDER, Alfred Joseph Alfred was born in Weissenburg, Ontario on July 5, 1893, to Joseph and Mary M. (Lehman). He had eleven siblings: Frank, Minnie, Maria, Pearl, Marion, Joseph A., Maggie, William, Anna, Lizzie, and John. Alfred was working on a farm until February 22, 1915, when he joined the Army (Regular Force) during World War I in Guelph, Ontario. He was posted with the 34th Battalion and sailed to the United Kingdom on October 23, 1915, where he continued with additional training in Shorncliffe, and on February 3, 1916, was sent across the channel to France. He was injured in a high explosive blast and spent the next nine months in hospital. Not being able to stand for long periods, he was transferred to the 12th Reserve Battalion and became an instructor and held various ranks including Sergeant Major. On July 18, 1919, he was discharged in Toronto and returned to the Maryhill area. On October 10, 1922, Alfred married Bertha Theresa (Zettel) and they raised two children, Mary Helen and Frank Joseph. Alfred passed away on March 5, 1986, and has been buried at Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery in Maryhill, Ontario.
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