John Wilfred Richardson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Wilfred Richardson was the son of John and Minnie Valentine Richardson (née Moore). His father John was born in Chaddesdon, Derbyshire, in September 1870 and his mother Minnie Valentine in Mansfield in February 1870. They were married at Mansfield General Baptist Church in 1893 and had six children but the eldest died in infancy: Olive May birth registered 1894 (J/F/M) d. 1895, John Wilfred b. Mansfield 21 April 1896 and Rebecca (also Rebeckah) b. 1898, Mary birth registered 1901 (J/F/M) and David Vincent b. 1903 who were born in Sutton in Ashfield and Winifred b. Worksop 1907. In 1901 the family was living in Station Road, Sutton in Ashfield; John snr. was a flour miller. Circa 1905, the family moved to Worksop and were living at 69 Eastgate in 1911. John senior was still working as a corn miller and John Wilfred had started work as a sweeper and machine cleaner in a local flour mill, probably at the same mill as his father. Rebecca, Mary and David were still at school while the youngest child, Winifred, was only 3 years old. John Wilfred was living with his parents at 69 Eastgate when he enlisted in the RMLI on 10 August 1914. John's parents were still at the same address at the time of his death in 1917. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, John, a retired flour miller, and Minnie were living on Bracebridge Drive, Worksop, with their unmarried daughter Winifred. John died in 1941 and Minnie in 1943.
Royal Marine Light Infantry, Plymouth Bn Royal Naval Division. Formerly CH/18598 Chatham Bn RMLI. John Wilfred enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 10 August 1914. His date of birth was recorded as 21 April 1895 (19y. 3m. 20d.), a year older than his birth age (reg. 1896). He joined the RMLI at the Recruit Depot Deal on 10 August 1914 where he served to 12 September then transferred to Chatham Division, 13 September-22 November 1914. John then transferred to Plymouth Division. Plymouth and Chatham Battalions (Royal Marine Brigade) embarked for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in early February 1915 arriving at Lemnos, Greece, on 24 February. Bad weather at sea prevented a planned operation to land the battalions at Gallipoli on 28 February although Plymouth battalion landed two companies at Kum Kale and Sedd-el-Bahr on 4 March to cover the demolition of Turkish guns by raiding parties. The operation was successful but cost 22 dead and 22 wounded. The battalions returned to Lemnos, then Egypt. Plymouth Bn. re-embarked in April and landed at 'Y' Beach, Cape Helles, in support of 29 Division. According to a newspaper report of John's death, John's family was informed in early May that their son had suffered wounds to his right leg for which he was being treated at an army hospital at Abbassiah, Cairo. The family then received a letter in July to say John was in hospital in Malta, dangerously ill from enteric fever from which he died, apparently in Malta. However, his place of burial makes it likely that he recovered from the illness and was discharged to his unit. (See 'Extra information') John Wilfred died (disease) on 20 July 1915 and is buried in the East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos, Greece (grave ref. II. B. 19). He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1914/15 Star was issued to his father in July 1919. CWGC - History of East Mudros Military Cemetery (extract): the cemetery is on the Greek island of Limnos (Lemnos) in the north-east Aegean Sea. 'Because of its position, the island of Lemnos played an important part in the campaigns against Turkey during the First World War. It was occupied by a force of marines on 23 February 1915 in preparation for the military attack on Gallipoli, and Mudros became a considerable Allied camp. The 1st and 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospitals, the 3rd Australian General Hospital and other medical units were stationed on both sides of Mudros bay and a considerable Egyptian Labour Corps detachment was employed. After the evacuation of Gallipoli [1916], a garrison remained on the island and the 1st Royal Naval Brigade was on Lemnos, Imbros and Tenedos for the first few months of 1916. On 30 October 1918, the Armistice between the Entente Powers and Turkey was signed at Mudros. East Mudros Military Cemetery was begun in April 1915 and used until September 1919.' (www.cwgc.org)
Note: The fact that John is buried on Mudros, the base of the MEF nearest to Gallipoli suggests that he must have recovered sufficiently from his attack of 'enteric' to be returned to duty but succumbed on the journey. Robert Ilett August 2015 Pte. John Wilfred Richardson Worksop Guardian 6 August 1915 'Information has this week been received of the death of Pte. John Wilfred Richardson of the Royal Marine Light Infantry which occurred on August 1st from enteric. Pte Richardson who was only 19 years of age was the son of Mr and Mrs J Richardson, cycle dealers of 108 Eastgate, Worksop. On May 6th information was received that he had been wounded in the Dardanelles, while serving with the Royal Marine Brigade of the Royal Naval Division and a further communication stated that he was only slightly wounded in the right leg, and was in the Egyptian Army Hospital at Abbassiah [Cairo]. On July 18th another letter was received stating he was lying dangerously ill at Malta with enteric fever. The notice of his death from the Record Office of the Naval Division stated that a telegram from Alexandria had been received, announcing the same, but in all probability the death occurred in Malta. The notification also contains a letter of sympathy with the relatives from the King and Queen and signed by Mr A J Balfour, the first Lord of the Admiralty. Pte Richardson was a good type of youth, a member of St Anne’s Bible Class, and sympathy is expressed with his parents especially as escaping from the rifle bullet he fell a victim to the dread enteric fever.' Research by Colin Dannatt
