Richard William Coakley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Richard was born in Shadwell,London in 1896 and was the son of William a wire rope maker and Louisa Coakley. The family originally came from London both William and Louisa being born there. The family moved up to the Nottinghamshire area prior to the birth of there second child Ellen Louisa born 1910/1911 at New Eastwood On the 1911 census the family are living at 6 Chapel Street,New Eastwood and both Richard and his father are employed as wire rope makers,
He served with 'A' Bty 88th Bde Royal Field Artillery for two years in France. He died from pleurisy at home. His service record shows that he completed his short service attested on 23rd October 1915 at Ilkeston. He gave his age as 19 years and address as 6 Chapel Yard New Eastwood his next of kin being his father William also of 6 Chapel Yard. He was training and saw service on the home front from 23/10/15 until 03/06/1916 when he went the Western front in France , it was while he was at the front he became ill with TB and so on 26/05/1918 he was returned to England and was admitted and treated at Grove Military hospital for pleurisy until his discharge on 10th July 1918. His discharge papers show that on 10th July 1918 he was discharged from the army being physically unfit for war service , he was 21 years and 6 months , he stated he wanted to be a factory hand and would be living at 6 Chapel Street,New Eastwood. His papers state he was 'an honest, sober and steady man' and the reason for his discharge was Pleurisy and Tubercle of the lung (TB) , he had served for a period of 2 years and 261 days in the army.
He died on 4th January 1919 and is buried in Eastwood Cemetery
