Private 675519, 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Killed in action during an attack at Passchendaele, 6 November 1917.

 

Resident Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Richard was born at Hollesley, Suffolk, 9 June 1892, the youngest of five surviving children of  Richard Richardson of Felixstowe, Suffolk and his wife Cecilia Jane nee Andrews. In 1911 the family were living at Hive Cottage, Ferry Road, Ferry Lane, Felixstowe with Richard working as a farm labourer. He emigrated to Canada, travelling from Liverpool to Quebec in June 1912. Like Henry Grimwood, Richard also became a farmer in Woodstock, Ontario.  He enlisted on February 14, 1916 on the same day as Henry Grimwood.

 

From his Canadian Infantry record he was a farmer by trade. Unmarried. Attested and passed fit at Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, 14 February 1916, aged 24, height 5 feet 8¾ inches, chest 37 inches. fair complexion, brown eyes, auburn hair, religious denomination Church of England. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8252 - 3 

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The Canadian Infantry were involved in the capture of Passchendaele in the early part of November 1917, with extensive casualties. Richard was killed during this attack on November 6, 1917, aged 25, and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 10 - 26 - 28. and the St Peter and St Paul WW1 Memorial.