Edward Richardson

Edward Richardson enlisted at the end of August 1914. He served at Gallipoli and in Egypt before transferring to France. He was wounded during the Battle of Thiepval 26/29th September 1916 when a shell exploded in the trench he was in before he could reach the safety of a dug-out. Edward was moved down the medical chain to one of the Etaples Hospitals where he died on 2 October. He was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Grave Reference: XI. D. 2A. John Morse

Transcriptions of the photographs of three separate reports (no sources given): ‘Sergt. Richardson Killed. Another well-known Bulwell man has given his life for King and country in Sergeant Edward Richardson, of the 9th Sherwood Foresters. His father and mother reside at the newsagent’s shop in Commercial road, and naturally feel the loss of such a gallant son most acutely. Three weeks after war was declared – on August 22nd, 1914 – young Richardson decided to do his bit and enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters. After being in training 11 months, he was sent out to the Dardanelles in July, 1915, and remained there until the end. His next move was to Egypt, and when trouble was threatened on the Suez canal he was despatched to that part of the country.’ ‘Sergt. E Richardson. Early in July of the present year Sergeant Richardson, along with his regiment, landed in France and was soon in the thick of the fighting on the Somme. Here he had the misfortune to be wounded, and died on October 1st. Lieut W. Wilkinson, of the same regiment and a son of Mr FJ Wilkinson (headmaster of the Coventry road schools), in a letter to Sergeant Richardson’s parents, says ‘I was deeply grieved to hear of the death of your son, and his loss has caused a gap among our NCOs which it will be very hard to fill, for he was one of the few sergeants on whom we could implicitly rely. He had no lack of courage, was devoted to his work, and had a high sense of duty. Anything he was given to do we knew would be done thoroughly. Up to the time that I was wounded none of us knew that his wound had so unfortunately ended in death. It may be of some interest to you to know that your son was in a front line trench, waiting along with his platoon to go out in front to dig a new trench. The Germans were shelling at the time. Hearing a shell coming (the enemy guns were on a flank, thus making the trench a place of danger) he tried to get into the shelter of a dug-out. Unfortunately, he was too slow and the shell burst in the trench before he had time to get entirely under cover. Several of his men were hit, and he himself went down with a shattered thigh. Although he must have been in agony, not a murmer passed his lips. He arrived at the dressing station all right, and it seemed as though he would survive. Unfortunately complications set in which resulted in his untimely death.’ Sergeant Richardson was only 23 years of age, and single. He attended the Quarry-road schools, and prior to joining the Army worked for the Bulwell Finishing Company.’ ‘Roll of Honour. Richardson. In loving memory of Edward Richardson, 9th Sherwood Foresters who died of wounds received in action in France on October 1st, the third and dearly-loved son of Edward and Mary E Richardson, 208, Commercial road, Bulwell’, aged 23 years. We never knew what pain he had, For others saw him died, We only know he passed away Without a last good-bye. Sleep on, dear lad, in a hero’s grave, A grave we may never see; But as long as life and memory last We will remember thee. From sorrowing mother, father, sisters, brothers, and fiancée (Bessie).’