The Friends
of the
Green Howards
 The Regiment's GC Holders
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers
Home   Regimental History   Medals  

Lance Sergeant Thomas E Alder, GC

On 14th November 1930, Lance Sergeant Alder, in charge of a group of three soldiers of the Regiment, was employed on anti-piracy duties on board the SS Wuhu on the Yangste Kiang River.   Whilst proceding up river, the ship was fired on by communists with guns and rifles on four occasions.   Fire was returned, and a number of casualties were observed.  At 4.30 p.m. on 16th November, L/Sgt. Alder left the Wuhu in order to proceed to the assistance of the SS Kiatung which had run ashore and was being attacked by communists in sampans.   The party had to proceed to the aid of this vessel 2 ½ miles up river in an open sampan under constant rifle fire from both banks.   After reaching the Kiatung and embarking, L/Sgt. Alder and his men were under fire from rifle and gun fire constantly from both sides of the river until the 17th November when another vessel arrived to their assistance.   Eventually, the Kiatung was towed off the sandbank and during the return journey the vessel was fired upon on a number of occasions. Lance Sergeant Thomas E Alder, GC

Thomas Edward Alder was born in Sunderland, County Durham on 20th January 1907.   At 18, he enlisted into the Green Howards and after his basic training at the Regimental Depot in Richmond, Private T. E. Alder was posted to the 2nd Battalion in Dover.   He served with the Battalion in Jamaica and later Bermuda, before proceeding to Egypt in 1927.
After two years, and now promoted to Lance Sergeant, Tom Alder and his Battalion was ordered to join the international brigade in China and replace the 1st Battalion, The Green Howards stationed in Shanghai.   4384271 Lance Sergeant T.E. Alder was awarded the EGM for his bravery on the Yangtze River between the 16th and 17th November 1930.   The announcement was made in The London Gazette on 4th August 1931.
Tom Alder completed his seven year engagement in Poona, India in 1932.   On his return to England he married (3 October 1932) and took a job with the Sunderland Health Department until the outbreak of World War II, when he was called up from the Reserve to rejoin his old regiment.   He was captured in Sicily in 1943 while serving with the 1st Battalion.   He spent the rest of the war in Italian and German prisoner of war camps, although he managed to escape from one Italian camp for a short period.   After repatriation, he was eventually demobilised in 1946 with the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant.
Tom Alder returned to his family in Sunderland and resumed his job with the local Health Department.   He lived in Farringdon, Sunderland until his death on the 5th March 1973, aged 66 years, some three years after his retirement.   Many of his old wartime comrades and Green Howard Association members attended his funeral and cremation in Sunderland.   His GC and medals still remain with his family.
His GC and campaign medals were presented to the Green Howards Museum by his son in 2002.

Return to Page Top
Home