Richard Bodsworth

Bombardier Richard Bodsworth, served with “C” Battery, 83rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, he died of wounds on 25th October 1917. He is buried in Minty Farm Cemetery, St. Jean-les-Ypres, Belgium. Grave Reference: I B 4

Article published 24th November 1917 in the Beeston Gazette & Echo :- “Bombardier Killed “A still further loss is that sustained by the parents of Bombardier Richard Bodsworth, of 28, Brickyard, Butler's hill, Hucknall. H was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Bodsworth, and was employed at the Newstead Colliery. He left his reserved occupation in the early days of the war, and was placed in the C Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. “He received his training at Colchester and Heytesbury, Wilts., and then went forth to trounce the Huns for all he was worth... and won the praise of officers and men by his bright disposition. He wrote only in a cheerful strain, and hoped to have the good fortune to reach home safely, though he had lost many esteemed pals. He was killed on October 29, [sic] and it is a sad coincidence to state that his fiancee died exactly a year ago from pneumonia. “A letter from Bombardier Bosworth's officer indicate that he had been acting as a signaller, and had only just come from the observation post when the enemy commenced to shell the battery. The last seen of him was when he was going to the cookhouse for his tea. Then it was feared h was knocked into a shell hole, and was not found on account of the darkness. A few days later they dicovered [sic] he had died of wounds at the dressing station. The officer added that at the time of his death he was the N.C.O. in charge of the signallers, which position called for a good deal of pluck, and he could honestly say he had plenty of it, and was a thoroughly reliable man who always did his best, so they had lost a good on. “His pal has also sent a letter, which contains the following passaged: “No one out here feels his loss more keenly than I do. We were often spoken of as the brothers or the twins. To me he was an ideal chum, fearless, generous, a heart as true as gold, and yet absolutely modest. However things may change, or whatever may come, there will never be another to take the place of dear old Dick.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918