RIPLEY Edward Robert Guy

His brother Henry Derek Ripley also fell.

Edward Ripley’s name and rank/unit are listed in the dedication of the memorial in Tenbury Parish Church on Thursday 27th October 1949 at 7 p.m. The memorial was unveiled by Flt Lieutenant Edward Ashley, DFC. The names are listed and their ranks/units have been handwritten on to sheet. The document can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of John Barry:
1921 Census
Henry William Alfred Ripley, age 42 years 5 months, born North Stainley, Yorkshire, Captain, Reserve of Officers
Dorothy Ripley, wife, age 39 years 9 months, born Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
Edward Robert Guy Ripley, son, age 9 years 7 months, born Bishop Thornton, Yorkshire
Ruth Patience Ripley, daughter, age 8 years 7 months, born Bedstone, Shropshire
Henry Derek Ripley, son, age 7 years 5 months, born Bedstone, Shropshire
Hugh Ripley, son, age 5 years 1 month, born Bishopthorpe, Yorkshire, Suzan Ripley, daughter, age 2 years 1 month, born Bedstone, Staffordshire
Geoffrey Nigel Ripley, son, age 3 months, born Bedstone, Shropshire
+ 2 visitors

1939 Register
Bedstone House, Bedstone, Bucknall, Clun
Henry W.A. Ripley, born 3rd January 1879, Private Means, A.R.P. Warden
Dorothy Ripley, born 16th September 1881, Private Means, Womens Voluntary Service
Suzan Ripley, born 31st May 1919, Private Means, V.A.D. (Probationer)

Unknown newspaper, 15th December 1939
Licence Suspended
When Captain Edward Robert Guy Ripley, K.S.L.I., appeared at Condover Petty Sessions on Saturday charged with driving a motor-car in a manner dangerous to the public on the Shrewsbury-Wellington Road at Emstrey on November 11 it was stated that his car crashed into a wall after nearly hitting a motor-cycle.
Mr B. D. J. Hayes appeared for the defendant.
Amos Robert Arnold, 30, Abbots Road, Shrewsbury, said he was cycling along and as he came opposite the “Mytton and Mermaid” a car swung out and he had to swerve to miss it. He followed the car, which, after being on its wrong side, went on to its correct side but then started to zig-zag about the road. Then it suddenly swerved to the offside and crashed into a wall.
Cross-examined, witness said there was no fog on the scene of the accident.
Reginald John Harper, Yew Tree House, Somerwood, Rodington, said that he was driving his motor-cycle with his wife on the pillion up a side lane. When he got to the main road he saw the car coming about 100 yards away. As he went towards it along the main road it suddenly swerved towards him and nearly hit him, so that he had to mount the kerb to avoid it.
Violet May Harper, the previous witness’s wife, gave similar evidence, and said there was no fog at the time.
Sergeant Parker said that in a statement Ripley said that in the car with him were two ladies and another officer. There were some patched of fog, and he thought he saw the lights of a stationary vehicle. He swerved out to miss it and then there was a bump and he had crashed into the wall. Witness said there was some mist on the scene when he arrived.
Mr B. D. J. Hayes submitted there was no evidence of his client having driven dangerously. An officer who was with Ripley had now gone abroad, and two sisters who were in the car had lost their father on Friday night, and under those circumstances Ripley did not wish to trespass upon them and call them as witnesses.
Captain Ripley gave evidence corroborating his statement to the police.
The chairman (Colonel J. H. Westley) said that the bench found the case proved and considered it to be a very serious one. As the defendant was serving his country they would not be any more severe than they could help. He would be fined £15, with £2 10s. 10d. special costs, his licence would be endorsed, and he would be disqualified from driving vehicles other than military vehicles on duty for six months.

Unknown Newspaper 24th March 1944
Wedding of Lt.-Col. E. Ripley and Miss Pardoe
There was a large attendance at St Mary’s Church, Tenbury, on March 11 to witness the marriage of Lieut.-Col. Edward Robert Guy Ripley, eldest son of Capt. Sir Henry Ripley, Bart., and Lady Ripley, Bedstone, Shropshire, and Sarah Stella Pardoe, subaltern in the A.T.S., elder daughter of Lieut.Col. A.G. Pardoe, M.C., and Mrs Pardoe, of Berrington House, Tenbury. The officiating clergymen were the Vicar of Tenbury, Squadron-Leader the Rev. J. A. Chesterton, C.F., Capt. The Rev. D. Ll. Jones, C.F., and the Rev. C. E. Shackleton, rector of Bedstone.
The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a white satin dress with net veil lent by Mrs Rocke, and carried a sheaf of arum lilies. Her child attendant was Ann Williams, in a Kate Greenaway dress of shell pink silk, with floral wreath, and she carried a posy of mixed spring flowers. The best man was Capt. A. D. Taylor, the Essex Regiment. The service was fully chloral. Following the ceremony a reception was held at the bride’s home. The bride and bridegroom left later for Devonshire.

15th July 1944
Ripley – Killed in action in Normandy in June 1944, Lt.-Col. Edward Robert Guy Ripley, dearly loved husband of Sally, Berrington House, tenbury, Worcestershire, and eldest son of Sir Henry and Lady Ripley, Bedstone, Bucknell, Shropshire, aged 32

Yorkshire Post 17th July 1944
Lt.-Col. E. R. G. Ripley
Lieut.-Colonel Edward Robert Guy Ripley (32), eldest son and heir of Sir Henry W.A. Ripley, of Acacia, Rawdon, and Lady Ripley, of Bedstone, Bucknell, Shropshire, is officially announced killed in action. His widow lives at Berrington House, Tenbury, Worcestershire.

Kington Times 22nd July 1944
Killed In Action
Lt.-Col. E. R. G. Ripley
Lt.-Col. Edward Robert Guy Ripley, eldest son of Sir Henry and Lady Ripley, Bedstone, Bucknell, and husband of Mrs Ripley, (Berrington House, Tenbury) was killed in action in June. He was educated at Stowe and joined the army through the Supplementary Reserve, being attached to the K.S.L.I. at Aldershot in 1930-31. He received his commission on November 5th, 1932, his twenty-first birthday, in the K.S.L.I., joining the 2nd Battalion at Colchester. He went to India the following year, and after serving there four years came home on leave, but on returning to India he was posted to the Depot., Shrewsbury. After the outbreak of war he was in command of troops at the Maltings and Harlescot, Shrewsbury. Subsequently he was with another battalion of the K.S.L.I. and from there he went as chief instructor of a battle school in the South of England. He was then given command of another battle school and soon after his marriage on March 11th last to Miss Sally Pardoe (eldest daughter of Col. Arthur C. Pardoe) he took up duties with another regiment.

Shrewsbury Chronicle 17th November 1944
Memorial Service for Lt.-Colonel E. Ripley
A memorial service for the late Lieut.-Colonel Edward Ripley, K.S.L.I., attached the Wels regiment, eldest son of Sir Henry Ripley, Bart, and Lady Ripley, of Bedstone House, who was killed in action on June 30th, was held in St Mary’s, Bedstone, on November 5th. The date was singularly appropriate, being both his birthday and Remembrance Sunday. The address was given by the Rev. C. E. Shackleton, rector.
The report continues with a list of attendees at the service.

Probate 1944
Ripley Edward Robert Guy of Bedstone Bucknall Shropshire died 30 June 1944 on war service Probate Llandudno 21 November to Sarah Stella Ripley widow. Effects £2002 13s. 8d.

Information on Henry Derek Ripley can be found via the following link:
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/fallen-alumni/flight-lieutenant-henry-derek-ripley