| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Richard was the second of 4 sons born to estate woodsman William and his wife Martha. All four boys were born and raised in Bishop Burton and attended the local school.
Richard enlisted at the end of 1914 and became a driver with the Royal Field Artillery, arriving in France in Sep 1915. Richard died from pneumonia on 20 Nov 1918, having been taken ill with influenza on the 15. He died at 19th Casualty Clearing Station and was buried at the British Cemetery at Caudry. His parents received a letter from the Chaplain, published in the Beverley Guardian on 14 Dec 1918, offering his deep sympathy in their loss. Richard was 24 when he died.
Martha and William lost two of their sons within a month of each other when third son Herbert was killed on 20 Oct 1918 serving with the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. The brothers’ Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries are within 30 miles of each other. Richard’s eldest brother Ernest survived the war and he returned to Beverley
.
Richard is remembered on the Hengate Memorial in Beverley, the Memorial in Beverley Minster and on the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity Friendly Society, (Ploughboys Refuge).
Bishop Burton remembers him on the Bishop Burton Memorial Cross by the pond, on a plaque at All Saints Church and on the plaque inside the church that commemorates Old Boys of Bishop Burton Church School who served in the Great War.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |