Richard Richmond

Richard (Dick) was born in 1898 in Hyson Green and was the son of Albert Edward, a machine lacemaker, and Clara Richmond (néé Peet). His father was born in 1876 in Basford and his mother Clara Peet was born in 1875 in Nottingham. They were married in the Parish Church, Arnold, on 19th March 1898 and went on to have five children but one died young and did not appear on either the 1901 or 1911 Census. Their surviving children were: Richard b1898 Hyson Green, Gladys May b 5 March 1906 (A/M/J Nottingham) d. 30 November 1919, Clara Hilda b. 25 November 1909 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Alfred b 18 April 1912. In the 1901 census the family (Albert, Clara and Richard) are living at 31 Acourt Street, Hyson Green, and by the 1911 census they are living at 16 Gordon Grove, Egypt Road, Hyson Green. They are shown as Albert 35 yrs a lace machinist, who is living with his wife Clara 36 yrs and their children Richard 12 yrs, a scholar, Gladys May 5 yrs a scholar and Clara Hilda 2 yrs. The youngest child, Alfred, was born the following year. The family moved to 24 Sherbrooke Road, Carrington, Nottingham, before Richard's death in 1915. Richard's father, Albert, enlisted in the army just 10 days after the death of his son (see 'extra information'). Albert died in 1923 at the age of 47. Richard's sister, Gladys May, died on 30 November 1919 aged 13.

Pte Richard Richmond, 8th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, enlisted in Nottingham and was under age at the time he did so - he was 12 years of age on the 1911 census and 17 years when he died in 1915. He landed in France on 10th July 1915 and was killed in action on 1st December 1915. He is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery (grave ref. 1.F.4).

In all probability the news of his son's death made his father Albert attest for service in the army as it was only 10 days later on 11th December 1915 at Nottingham that he attested. He was 39 yrs and 11 months old, he was a machine lacemaker living at 24 Sherbrooke Road, Carrington, Nottingham. The following day he was placed into the Reserves. He was mobilised for war on 29th July 1916 at Derby; he was now 40 yrs and 188 days old. He was posted to the 3rd battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. On 27th June 1917 he was posted to the Northumberland Fusiliers. By the time he was discharged on 15th March 1919 he was serving with the Labour Corps. His discharge address was 24 Sherbrooke Road, Nottingham. He never served overseas. He died in 1923 in Nottingham; he was 47 yrs old. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’ 24 December 1915: ‘Richmond. Killed in action, December 1st, Private Richard Richmond, 8th KOSB, beloved son of AE and C Richmond, 24, Sherbrooke-road, Carrington. Bitterly, oh bitterly, we’ll miss him, aching hearts alone can tell, the circle of another home is broken, for why, no one but God can tell.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’ 24 December 1915: ‘Richmond, Killed in action, December 1st, Richard Richmond, 8th KOSB. He died a soldier’s death, faithfully doing his duty. From Uncle Alf and Auntie Florrie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) In memoriam published 1st December 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “RICHMOND. – In loving memory of Richard Richmond (Dick), 8th King's Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action, December 1st, 1915. To us the world is sad without our son and brother, home seems quite another place; sadness comes where might be sunshine, we who dearly loved him miss his smiling face. – Mother, father, sisters, little brother.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 2 December 1919: ‘Richmond. On November 30th, at 24 Sherbrooke-road, Gladys May, dearly loved daughter of Mr and Mrs Richmond, in her 14th year. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Service Carrington Church, Saturday, December 6th, at 2.15. Interment Church Cemetery, 3 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)