Honourary Lieutenant William Rider Rider the third, and final official Canadian War Photographer of the Great War. Many sources incorrectly refer to Rider being wounded during the Great War. No such thing occurred, though he did put himself in the position to have been wounded on many occasions.
The so-called wounding, actually an indiscretion for which William would pay a price. He would not be promoted to Honourary Captain like his two previous predecessors, Honourary Captain Knobel and Honourary Captain Castle. Rider also incorrectly referred to by many as Rider-Rider. Actually, his middle name was the same as his last name.
Propaganda of the Facts
Captain Ivor Castle accused of faking photographs, as was Lt. Ernest Brooks of the British Army. Brooks recreated, and staged some of his earlier photographs. Brooks exposed by other journalists for faking photographs. In 1916, Britain introduced a policy known as Propaganda of the Facts. It banned staged or fake images, noting that they undermined Allied credibility. However, following the war, Lt. Brooks’ reputation was high enough to earn him a job as the official photographer to the Royal Family. Alas, this post came to an abrupt end, with a delayed onset of PTSD (just like Captain Castle).
The CWRO photographs document the Canadian wartime experience. A few images faked, and purported to represent events that they did not. However, all the images offer poignant testimony to the soldier’s, and prisoner’s experiences behind the lines and in the trenches. Important to note William Rider Rider not accused of any trickery. He was brave. Easily the most daring of the three Canadian photographers. He did take risks, exposing himself to shellfire on many occasions.
Early life
Honorary Lieutenant William Rider Rider 19482 born 20 March 1889, in Stamford Hill, London, England. Married to Rosina Ada Rider, of 20a Peabody Bldg., Kingsway, London. They had one boy, aged three. Before the Great War, William Rider Rider a photographic journalist living in Westminster. He worked for the Daily Mirror. Then, Rider first enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment, in June 1916. He then moved to the Wild Street estate with his wife, and their young son. Because of his very poor eyesight, he became an Army gymnasium instructor.
Enlistment in CEF
Someone realized Captain Castle not well in 1917. His PTSD would not be recognized as such until long after the Great War. With his failing health, the Canadian military forces made an official request for Rider to be transferred. Perhaps Rider would have time to learn from Castle. Rider and Castle acquainted – he had also worked for the Daily Mirror.
William one of very few men to attest at Bramshott Camp, on 23 April 1917. Drafted as unfit (poor eyesight), and placed in the 9th Reserve (Alberta) Battalion. William stood 5′ 8″ tall, a healthy 165 pounds, with fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. Immediately promoted to Honourary Lieutenant.
One of my favourite images captured by Rider may not have been of the best quality. That is because the quality of the images has to take a back-seat to the scenes captured. Any photo captured by the CWRO photographers is, as we say, worth a thousand words.
Service
Began his service on 24 April 1917 with the Canadian War Records Office (CWRO), just after the Battle of Vimy Ridge. For a short period, it is difficult to subscribe any of the official CWRO photos to either Castle or Rider. No discernible difference in their style, and they apparently used the same equipment. A Doctoral Thesis recently submitted to Wilfred Laurier University on a small selection of Castles’ photographs, purporting to illustrate the distinctive style of Castle. Perhaps so.
While Rider employed on the Western Front, during July of 1917, Captain Castle organized an exhibition of CWRO photographs at Grafton Galleries, London. An impressive exhibition, it included a large number of photographs captured at Vimy Ridge. Included, was a massive print of the Taking of Vimy Ridge, enlarged to 11 by 20 feet. Publicized as the largest photograph in the world, listed for sale at £80. The exhibition also traveled to Paris in June of 1918.
Castle’s Exit
According to Rider, Castle had traveled to Britain to organize the Second Exhibition of Canadian Official War Photographs, and simply never returned to the Front. The men had worked together at the Daily Mirror, but Rider unimpressed that Castle had faked an image, Over the Top.
William Rider Rider joined the Canadian Corps Headquarters, 22 June 1917, replacing Captain Castle.
Castle’s return motivated by the public outcry over his faked images Over the Top.
I had a lot to love down when I visited some units…remarks such as ‘Want to take us going over the top? Another faker?’
Rider reporting the jeers he had to endure upon arrival.
Corporal Percy Harper Reeves
Percy Harper Reeves 422314 enlisted with the 44th Battalion, at twenty-two years of age, in Winnipeg on 18 March 1915. He stood 5′ 8″ tall, with a scar over the left eye. Dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. Born in Parishville, NY on 27 August 1893.
Pte Percy Harper Reeves entered the Western Front with the 8th Battalion on 22 July 1915.
Private Percy Reeves admitted to No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance on 6 December 1915 with influenza. He rejoined his unit, the 8th Battalion, on 14 December 1915.
Batman
Corporal Percy Harper Reeves transferred to the 2nd Infantry Brigade HQ on 17 January 1916. On 11 April 1916, transferred to Canadian Army Corps HQ as batman to Captain Harry Knobel. Four days later treated for bronchitis at No. 4 CFA, and returned to duty the following day. Transferred to the 8th Battalion on 11 May 1916.\
Louise Marie Pecqueur
On 25 July 1917, Louise Marie Pecqueur of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, France gave birth to a stillborn child.
Reeves granted permission to marry, in the field, 10 August 1918. A most peculiar time, only two days after the start of the Battle of Amiens, when the CWRO photography team very active. No record of the marriage in Britain, presumed Percy had married a local French woman, and that she had died sometime before 1920.
Thanks to Zélie Duffroy of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, the identity of Cpl Reeves first wife now known. Reeves married Louise Marie Pecqueur on 10 August 1918. While living with Cpl Reeves in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise on 6 September 1918, Louise Marie took ill and she was admitted to No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance (CFA) in Bethune, where she died the following day. At this time, the war diary of No. 12 CFA notes several of the locals having been admitted due to influenza.
Funeral
A series of images captured in October 1918 of the “Funeral of a French wife of a Canadian soldier”. The town quickly identified as Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, France. The coincidences indicate this was the funeral of the first wife of Corporal Percy Harper Reeves, Louise Marie Pecqueur of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise.
Reeves SoS to the Canadian Record List on 16 February 1919. He returned to Canada on 26 April 1919. Reeves discharged on 8 May 1919 at Military District No. 10.
Germaine Marie Louise Pecqueur
On 15 July 1920, in St-Pol-sur-Ternoise, Percy married Germaine Marie Louise Pecqueur, the sister of his deceased first wife. Born on 24 April 1904 in St Pol, Germaine the daughter of Louis Joseph Pequeur and Ursule Laure Delbarre. Having given birth to daughter Beatrice Louise on 23 January 1919, the family returned to the United States in June of 1921, arriving in New York on the 10th aboard the Aquitania.
Reeves died on 16 March 1964 in Dayton, Ohio.
Photographs of Generals
On 29 June 1918, the CWRO instructed Rider to obtain the photographs of twelve generals, and any other officers he might come across.
I took photographs to illustrate life of Canadians at the Front, and War! Not groups of officers, which General Watson ordered me to take once and I refused. I said ‘telephone or see General Currie from whom I take orders and ask him.’ He didn’t.
Rider to Peter Robertson in April 1971.
Rider admitted on 6 September 1918, No.4 C.C.S., “Pharyngitis”, and discharged five days later on 11 September 1918.
One of the most frequently colourized images (below), of the Great War, also came from the same series of photographs.
PTSD and Demobilization
In January, William stops in Brussels on the way back from the Allied Occupation of Germany. He seeks the help of a private doctor. Rider has had an attack of Gonorrhea, between 10-27 January 1919. Returned to England and admits himself to Grove Military Hospital, Tooting Grove, 8 February 1919. He states he had an attack of Gonorrhea in 1903. And, also another attack in 1911 lasting 3 weeks.
He also had pleurisy, in his left lung in 1912. During his discharge in August of 1919, William claimed he first contacted V.D. at Edinburgh in 1908. William also slightly debilitated. He has lost 35 pounds while on active service. However, his condition not recognized as PTSD. Admitted to Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Matlock Bath, 20 March 1919. Finally, William discharged on 3 April 1919.
Sailed to Canada on 3 May 1919. Then, returned to duty in British Isles, 23 July 1919. Lastly, Struck-off-Strength on 18 August 1919.
Later Life of William Rider Rider
The other two official Canadian photographers promoted to Honourary Captain for their service. Rider’s indiscretion prevented him from obtaining a similar promotion. However, Canada owed William a debt of gratitude for his 2,800 negatives, and he would receive an M.B.E. (16 June 1919) on the recommendation of Sir Arthur Currie.
He returned to his life on Fleet Street, and worked as chief picture editor, and later night news editor on the Daily Mirror. Then, he retired in 1948, and died in 1979.
In time, Captain Henry Edward Knobel, and Captain Ivor William Castle will also be featured in a blog post. Castle on assignment in February of 1917, captured the Naval series – over 50 incredible images of the Grand Fleet.
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