Frederick James Richards
- Family History
- Military History
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Frederick James was the son of Lord Frederick Richards (also Frederick Lord or Frederick) and Ann (also Annie) Richards nee Daws. His father was born in Ibstock, Leciestershire, in 1865 (O/N/D Market Bosworth) and Ann was born in Hucknall Torkard on 3 January 1867 (J/F/M Basford). They were married in 1885 (A/M/J Basford) and at the time of the 1911 Census when they had been married for 25 years they had had seven children of whom only four survived. Named on the Census between 1881 and 1911 were: Joseph Edward b. Hucknall Torkard 15 April 1866 (A/M/J Basford), Ethel b. Hucknall Torkard 1890 (A/M/J Basford), Frederick James b. Mansfield 12 February 1891 (J/F/M Basford) and Elizabeth b. Mansfield 1894 (J/A/S Mansfield). In 1881 Frederick (25) a coal miner, and Annie (24) were living at 15 Garden Road, Mansfield, with their two children Joseph (4) and Ethel (1). Also in the household was a boarder, John T Caley (19), a coal miner. Ethel was not in the family home on the night of the two subsequent census. However, there is a record of the death of an Ethel Richards b. abt 1890 in 1939 (Dec Mansfield) age 49. By 1901 the family had moved to 19 Garden Road, Mansfield. Frederick was still working as a coal miner hewer. Three of Frederick and Annie's children were in the home on the night of the census, Joseph (14) a pony driver below ground, James (9) and Elizabeth (6). The family was still at 19 Garden Road in 1911. Frederck was now working as a boot trade canvasser. Only his wife Annie, and two children, Joseph (24) a coal miner hewer, and Elizabeth (16) a cleaner cotton doubling, were in the home on the night of the census. Elizabeth has not been traced after this census. Frederick James, who was not in the family home on the night of the 1911 Census, joined the Royal Navy later that year on 18 July. Frederick's parents were still living at 19 Garden Road at the time of his death in 1916. His father died in 1835 (Jun Mansfield) age 69. The widowed Ann was still living at 19 Garden Road in 1939 at the time the Register of England & Wales was compiled. Also living with her were her eldest son Joseph, an unemployed labourer, his wife Ethel nee Walker (b. 23 December 1887) whom he had married in 1913 (A/M/J Mansfield), and three children: Cyril Richards b. 27 July 1920 a baker and confectioner, Joe Richards b. 27 December 1922 (probably 1923) a farm labourer, and Mavis Richards (later Morris) b. 7 September 1927. It is possible that Joseph and Ethel had at least three other children as the records of the following children whose births were registered in the Mansfield registration district give their mother's maiden name as 'Walker': Doris A b. 1913 (O/N/D Mansfield), Marion Richards b 1916 (Mansfield) and James Richards b. 1918 (Mansfield). Joseph probably died in 1945 aged 59 (Jun Mansfield).
Frederick joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 18 July 1911 on a 12 year engagement. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory ll, 18 July 1911-12 August 1911 (Stoker 2nd Class); HMS Renown, 13 August 1911-23 September 1911; Victory ll, 24 September 1911-5 December 1911; HMS Jupiter, 6 December 1911-19 March 1912; 28 days detention (theft); Victory ll, 14 April 1912-30 April 1912; HMS Black Prince, 1 May 1912-8 June 1912; 30 days detention (absent over leave); HMS Black Prince, 4 July 1912-9 March 1913; 28 days detention; HMS Egmont, 7 April 1913-18 May 1913; HMS Black Prince, 19 May 1913-31 May 1916 (Stoker 1st Class, 18 July 1913). Naval record annotated: ‘NP4065/1916. DD [discharged dead] 31st May 1916. Killed in action.’ Frederick was killed when HMS Black Prince was lost with all hands at the Battle of Jutland. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Black Prince was sunk at Jutland on May 31st 1916. The circumstances surrounding her loss were unclear for many years because there were no positive sightings of Black Prince after 17.42. Recent historians hold to the German account of the ship's sinking. Black Prince briefly engaged the German battleship Rheinland at about 23:35 GMT, scoring two hits with 6-inch shells. Separated from the rest of the British fleet, Black Prince approached the German lines at approximately midnight. She turned away from the German battleships, but it was too late. The German battleship Thüringen fixed Black Prince in her searchlights and opened fire. Up to five other German ships, including battleships Nassau, Ostfriesland, and Friedrich der Grosse, joined in the bombardment, with return fire from Black Prince being ineffective. Most of the German ships were between 750 and 1500 yards of Black Prince - effectively point blank range for contemporary naval gunnery. Black Prince was hit by at least twelve heavy shells and several smaller ones, sinking within 15 minutes. There were no survivors from Black Prince's crew, all 857 being killed.
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