George Richardson

George Richardson was the son of Samuel and Mary Richardson (née Dixon). His father Samuel was born in about 1842 at Halam and his mother Mary Dixon was born in about 1851 at Woodborough, Nottinghamshire. They were married at Kirklington St Swithin church, Nottinghamshire, in May 1882 and had four children who were all born in Halam: William born abt. 1883, John b. 1884 (birth registered 1885 J/F/M), Sarah b. 1887 and George b. abt 1889 baptised Southwell Holy Trinity 31 August 1890. The family was living at Westgate, Southwell, when George was baptised in 1890 and recorded there o the 1891 Census: Samuel, an agricultural labourer, Mary a charwoman, and their four children William, John, Sarah and George. By 1901 Samuel and Mary had moved to Easthorpe, Southwell. Samuel was described on the censes as 'formerly agricultural labourer, while his wife was still employed as a charwoman. Only Sarah and George, who were both school age, were in the home on the night of the census. William, a domestic gardener, was living in Norwood House Park in the same accommodation as another domestic gardener, also named William Richardson (27 b. Halam), while John was one of two farm servants living on Village Street, Halloughton near Southwell, in the household of the widowed Ann Dorothy Johnson, a farmer, and her unmarried daughter Jane. Samuel, a retired farm labourer, and Mary were still living in Easthorpe in 1911; only George, a carter for a coal dealer, was still living at home. William, who was still working as a domestic gardener, had married Annie Sleight in 1907 and they and their son Charles Cyril (b. 1908) were living at Cowdray Lane Lodge, South Carlton, near Worksop. John, a domestic gardener, was married to Miriam Jane (née Cottam m. 1910) and they were living on Church Street, Southwell. Their daughter Miriam was born in 1915 (O/N/D) but her mother died aged 31 the same year (O/N/D). John married secondly Selina Bradbury (23) at Southwell parish church in 1918. Sarah has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census but may have married. George's father died in 1919 (reg. J/F/M) and was buried at Southwell St Mary (Minster) on 14 January. The burial register gave his adddress as Private Road. His widow, Mary, was named in an 'In Memoriam' notice to their son George in 1917 but she has not yet been traced after this date.

1911 - carter (coal dealer)

Southwell. Enlisted Newark Nottinghamshire.

117th Brigade Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. The 117th (Howitzer) Brigade was formed in 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New Army. It served in France from September 1915 under 26th Division but the Division moved in November 1915 to Salonika and in 1916 the unit took part in the action of the Battle of Horseshoe Hill. The Brigade transferred to Palestine in August 1917 as part of 74th (Yeomanry) Division but returned to the Western Front in 1918. Gunner George Richardson enlisted at Newark. He was posted to the 117th Brigade Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, and landed in France on 19 September 1915. George died of dysentery in Malta on 21 October 1916, suggesting that he had been medically evacuated from Salonika where the Division had been serving since December 1915. He is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta (grave ref. D.XIV.3). 'Many of the Commonwealth burials are marked by flat headstones bearing multiple names due to the shallow earth and hard rock found in Malta.' (www.cwgc.org) George qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday 27 November 1916, photograph with caption: 'Gunner G Richardson (RFA) of Southwell, died of dysentery, Oct. 21st.' (www.britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post ‘Roll of Honour’, Friday 17 November 1916: ‘Richardson. Died of dysentery, October 21st, 1916. Gunner G Richardson, RFA, Southwell. He sleeps not in his native land, but ‘neath some foreign skies, far from those who loved him best, but in a hero’s grave he lies. From his sorrowing father and mother, brothers, and only sister.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam' 20 October 1917: 'Richardson. In loving remembrance of our dear son and brother, Gunner G Richardson, of Southwell, who died at Malta, October 21st, 1916. A day of remembrance sad to recall. From his loving father, mother, brothers, and only sister.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)