Samuel John Ryder

Samuel John Ryder, eldest son of Samuel Bagshaw Ryder, moved to Kelowna with his parents in 1912 from Earl Grey, Saskatchewan. While in Saskatchewan, his father had received a letter from an old friend from England, who himself had just moved to Canada and settled in the Okanagan. In this letter the family friend told Samuel Bagshaw to get out of Saskatchewan and move to "paradise" in the Okanagan Valley.

After settling in the valley and before going to war, Samuel John played banjo around town at various parties and was known as a ladies' man.

Once WW1 had started Samuel John answered the call to arms and enlisted in the Canadian Expeditiary Force to fight for the British. Before departing his packed up his worldly possessions in a barrel, including this remaining ivory handled revolver; the barrel was never found again that I know of.

Samuel, once back in England (his parents and family had moved to Canada in 1907), came across old friends from Essex where he had grown up and while getting reacquianted missed his train and accidentally became a deserter. To avoid possible execution Samuel reenlisted with the British Army using the last name Adams. We believe he chose the last name Adams because it was the last name of his parents' neighbours in Kelowna and if something would happen to him it'd be easier for his family to know that way. Pretty wise.

When Samuel was killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Adams received a letter announcing the death of their son, Samuel John Adams. Not having a son by that name there was some confusion until they figured out it was Samuel Bagshaw's son. Truly a sad day in both homes.

To this day Samuel John Ryder is immortalized at the Thiepval Memorial in France as Samuel John Ryder (Served as Adams).