Alfred Richards

Alfred was the son of Joseph and Sarah Ann Richards. His widowed mother completed the census in 1911 as head of household and provided the information that she had been married for 29 years and had had eight children of whom only five were still living. Five children were named on the census of 1901 and 1911: Alfred (b. 12 December 1886), Nellie (b. 1893 A/M/J Newark), Joseph (b. 1896 A/M/J Newark), Harry (b. 1899 O/N/D Basford) and Selina (b. 1902 A/M/J Nottingham). In 1901 the family was living at 15 Auckland Street, Radford: Joseph Richards (44) an iron moulder, Sarah Ann (38) and the four children, Alfred (13) a hatter's errand boy), Nellie (7), Joseph (4) and Harry (2). Selina, the youngest surviving child, was born the following year. In 1911 the widowed Sarah Ann (47) was living at 136 Willoughby Street, New Lenton, and working from home as a hair net threader. Also at home on the night of the census were four of her five children; Nellie (17) who was also working at home as a hair net threader, Joseph (14), Harry (12) and Selina (9). Also in the household was a boarder, William Greoty (sic) (62) a coppersmith. Alfred joined the Royal Navy on3 January 1903 when he was 16 years old. At the time of his death in May 1916 his mother was living at 21 Denison Street, Radford.

In 1901 he was a hatter's errand boy and was still working as an errand boy when he joined the Royal Navy in January 1903.

Alfred joined the Royal Navy on 3 January 1903 when he was 16 years old and at the age of 18 on 26 December 1904 joined on a 12 year engagement. Alfred served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges, 3 January 1903-10 November 1903 (Boy 2nd Class, Boy 1st Class 3 October 1903; HMS Minotaur, 11 November 1903-31 December 1903; Boscawen II, 1 January 1904-14 June 1904; HMS Essex, 15 January 1904-11 October 1905, (5 days cells), 17 October 1905-20 November 1905, (10 days cells), 1 December 1905-9 February 1906, (5 days cells), 15 February 1906-19 March 1906 (Ordinary Seamen 26 December 1904, Able Seaman 4 January 1906); Vivid I, 20 March 1906-9 April 1906; HMS Niobe, 10 April 1906-27 April 1908; HMS Suffolk, 28 April 1908-21 May 1909; HMS Egmont, 22 May 1909-31 May 1909, HMS Suffolk, 1 June 1909-2 May 1910; Vivid, 3 May 1910-12 November 1910; HMS Defiance, 13 November 1910-23 February 1911; HMS Indefatigable, 24 February 1911-4 July 1912, (7 days cells), 12 July 1912-31 May 1916. Naval records annotated, ‘NP 3944/1916. DD 31st May 1916. Killed in action.’ He was killed at the Battle of Jutland. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. The battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable was launched in 1909 and commissioned in 1911. In 1916 she was in the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron, part of Vice Admiral Beatty's battlecruiser fleet, and was sunk in the opening phase of the Battle of Jutland after being hit by shells from the German battlecruiser Von der Tann. Only two of a ship's company of over 1,000 survived.

CWGC: 'Native of Newark. Son of Sarah Ann Richards, of 21, Denison St., New Radford, Nottingham.' 'In memoriam' published 31st May 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post: “RICHARDS. – In loving memory of Alfred Richards, 21, Denison-street, Radford, lost with H.M.S. Indefatigable, May 31st, 1916. Christ will link the broken chain closer when we meet again. – Mother and family.” Courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday 27 July 1916 (photograph): ‘AB A Richards, 21 Denison Street, Radford, lost with HMS Indefatigable.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The headmaster of New Radford School Nottingham referred to Moreland and three other former pupils in his log entry 5/9th June 1916 - 'In the recent Battle of Jutland four of our old scholars lost their lives. - Ernest [Edward John] Walters, J. [John] Moreland, Leonard Fowler and Alfred Richards.' (Nottinghamshire County Archives SL125R3/3)