Sunday 13 November 2011



As it's Remembrance Sunday today, I thought I'd post about the Richardson's experience of World War One. Four of the five Richardson brothers, the sons of Robert Richardson, were in the forces during the war.

Harold, the elder brother, born in 1881,was already in the Army by the time of the 1911 Census.  He can be seen serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers & based at Census time at Hillsborough Barracks in Sheffield.  By the outbreak of war, he was an acting sergeant with the Fusiliers, No. 8434.
Harold was killed on the second day of the Somme, the 3rd July 1916.  He has no known grave, but his name is on the Thiepval Memorial.  His medal card shows he was awarded the Victory and British medals and also the 1915 Star for service in France & Flanders in 1915.

Robert Frederick (known as Fred), born in 1884, didn't as far as I can find, join the forces, but put his mechanical skills to good use on the first bombers at Hendon Airfield.


I have done some research on William, the third brother, born in 1885.  I have yet to check these facts, but it appears he joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, Private No. 6359.  He disembarked on the 21st September 1914 and was killed on the 17th October near Lille in Belgium during a bayonet charge. He is mentioned on Le Touret memorial.  His medal card also shows the Victory & British medals as well as the 1914 Star and Clasp, awarded for coming under fire in France & Flanders between the 5th August 1914 and the 22nd November 1914.  William left a wife, Florrie and two small daughters, Florence & Edna.





Ernest, my great-great grandfather, born in 1887, enlisted in the Royal
Engineers No. 311905 and was seconded to the Inland Waterways Division, due to his trade of stonemasonry. I’ve been unable yet to find out much about what he did, but the lack of a medal card suggests that he served in the UK.






The youngest son, Percival, also served with the Royal Engineers, he was a sapper, No. 633466.  He also won the Victory & British medals and the 1915 Star for service in France & Flanders between the 23rd November and the 31st December 1915.  His qualifying date was the 11th September 1915 in Western France.





So this family lost two out of five sons in the war, it’s unimaginable today, so wear your Poppy!



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