The Friends of the Green Howards	Green Howards Association Photos
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers

The Riordan Brothers Hand Over Their Medals to the Museum,
27 June 2006

The photos and their captions have been provided by Peter Etherington (<Peter@etheringtonp.freeserve.co.uk>). As The Green Howards were amalgamated into the newly formed Yorkshire Regiment, Major Jack Riordan decided he needed to cement his family’s long association – over 120 years – with the Regiment. He travelled to Richmond, with eleven members of his family, to present his MBE and medal set to the Museum to join those of his father and grandfather. The occasion was previously reported in the "Latest News" on the Friends of the Green Howards website, but Peter Etherington has provided additional information and photos to supplement the news item.
		Major Jack (Gandhi) Riordan M.B. E. hands his medal group into the care of the Curator of the Regtimental Museum Major Roger Chapman M.B.E The Board on the table holds the medals of his Grandfather, Father, and brother Tom and together with his own medals cover a period of some 120 years of service to the Regiment. The other groups had been previously presented to the Museum. The group is notable in that Grandfather, Father and son Jack have all held the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major in the Regt and all three were awarded the LSCG medal and the MBE. The cousin Bryan also possesses the LSGC Medal too A pretty unique record of service!

To update the family medal group Jack 's younger brother George (who served in the Royal Tank Regt then the Green Howards) places their cousin Brian's medals on the board to complete the Riordan medal group. Brian now lives in the USA and sent his medals to the brothers so they could be placed together with the rest of his family. In the background Mrs. Judith Riordan watches intently.

Watched by Major Chapman, Major Riordan gives a short address to the company explaining why he had placed his medals in the care of the Museum. He explained his feelings at the passing of the Regiment as he and his family had known it, and at this time of change felt it appropriate to add his medals to those of his family while the Museum still remained the GREEN HOWARDS Museum.

		The Medal board, Top, Left to Right (Grandfather) Sgt. Major (pre RSM rank) Thomas Riordan, M.B.E. Soudan Medal, Khedive Star, LSGC Medal (shown in error it being his sons) MSM (Prior to LSCG Medal) Regular service 38 years and a further 15 years at the War Office. (Father) RSM Tom, Riordan M.B.E., Mons Star, 1914-18 War Medal. Victory Medal., LSGC Medal (Not shown as Gandhi discovered the medal under his Grandfather's name). Regular Service 37 years and a further 15 years at HQ North Riding TA Association.
(Brother) Tommy Riordan MM, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star ( 1st Army) Italy Star, Defence Medal. War Medal ( cut off photograph). Regular Service 16 years ( Invalided out as a result of War wounds). Served a further 10 years as QM Mbro detachment Green Howards Cadets. Below L to R Major J Riordan, M.B.E , War Medal 1939-45, GSM with Clasps Malaya, Suez , Cyprus (EOKA), GSM Clasp N. Ireland LSGC Medal 49 years service. Staff/Sgt Brian Riordan (USA). Italy Star, 1939-45 War medal. GSM( Malaya) UN Nations Medal (Cyprus), LSCG Medal. J joined the Green Howards in 1947 and served briefly in Catterick with Major Jack Riordan MBE. In 1948 he was seconded to the Parachute Regiment and served until 1953 when he transferred to the Royal Army Pay Corps (when he ceased to be a Green Howard). He served 18 years in the regular army, in United Kingdom, Germany, Cyprus, Malaya, Bahrain, and at the British Embassy in Washington DC. Emigrated to the USA in 1965 and retired in 1993 having served the last eight years as Auditor-General of the Marshall Islands. He earned the Italy Star and End of War Medal. Those medals were awarded for wartime service in the British Merchant Navy.

Jack indicates his medals to the Press while his family and wife Judith look on approvingly. There were approximately 25 people present including his family, old comrades and Museum staff. After the presentation all enjoyed a Buffet courtesy of the Museum staff

Ben and Mrs. Ann Gunn chat with John Waudby and members of Malton Branch (all members of the 2nd Bn Branch too). John served with Gandhi in the 2nd Bn in the Sudan in 1947. Ben served with him in the 1st Bn.

Old comrades chat. L to R   Ex CSM Peter Etherington (2nd and 4th Bn) 14 years service. Ex C/Sgt. Ben Gunn (1st Bn and various Corps) 30 years service, Major (Retd) Jack Riordan MBE (2nd and 1st Bn} 49 years service. Major (Retd) Roger Chapman MBE (1st Bn) 16 years service and last Green Howard Curator of the Regtl Museum. A total of 109 years service with the Colours and still supporting the Regiment in various ways!

John Waudby stands underneath the 2nd Bn Colours under which among those present: - he, Jack Riordan and Peter Etherington served. Jack's first posting was to the 2nd Bn in which his father had served. When this became the 1st Bn in 1948 in Khartoum. He went with the 1st to Malaya. He returned to the 2nd Bn on reforming in 1952 rejoining the 1st when the 2nd was placed in "Suspended Animation" in 1956. The Colours are in the Museum as being in "Suspended Animation" they could not be laid up in the Regtl Chapel. They will be 100 years old in 2009 being presented by Her Majesty Queen Alexandra in 1909

Peter Etherington writes "While the Family Medal group is already large Jack Riordan informs me that there are others in the family who have served and who he would like to see place their medals with those already in the museum. He has three brothers George,( RTR and Green Howards), Brian (REME) and Paddy ex Bandsman 1st Bn Green Howards. He also has a brother in law who was a Green Howard Cadet and served during the war in the RNVR. All have medals! What a unique family collection that would be!"

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