| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Richard Pape was born in Beverley the 25 Aug 1896 and baptised at Beverley Minster on 24 Oct 1896, he was one of seven children born to Johnstone and Lavinia Pape. Richard’s father was originally from Leven whilst his mother was from Cottingham. They had married in Cottingham in 1879. Johnstone Pape was a law clerk and their home was in Northgate, Cottingham. In the mid-1890s they moved to Beverley and living at 38 Wilbert Grove (Edale House). Richard became a clerk.
Richard enlisted at Beverley the 21 Jan 1916 and reported for duty with the Royal Engineers the 13 Nov 1916. He sat a proficiency exam for a typist role; he was described in his records as being “a good typist and good stencil cutter” by his examiner. However he was allocated to the Transport Division (RETD) and trained as a driver. He was in France in 1917 before the Division to which he was attached was sent to Italy. The massive defeat of the Italian army at Caporetto in Oct to Nov 1917 by Austrian and German forces led to French forces and five British Divisions being sent to Italy to avert further collapse. They arrived from France in late Oct 1918. Richard was admitted to hospital at Lido D’Albaro on 1 Nov 1918 with unspecified wounds.
Richard was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
Richard returned to working as a clerk in South Wales at Skewen, Neath. Richard returned to Beverley and on 11 Jun 1925 married Maud Lyon of Beverley at St Mary’s Church. In 1939 Richard joined the Territorial Army and for nearly a year served in the Royal Regiment of Artillery manning anti-aircraft guns. Richard died in Beverley aged 74 in 1971.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |