Name
Richard Thomas Wass
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/07/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
28509
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
183rd Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE
II. G. 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth UDC Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Rickmansworth
Pre War
Richard Wass was born in 1894 in Forest Gate, son of Frederick and Emma Wass.
In 1901 the family were living at 18 Bristol Road, West Ham and Frederick working as a railway signalman. Richard had 2 older sisters, an older brother and younger brother. In 1911 his mother, Emma, was mother living with John Bell, as housekeeper at 48 Wyvendale Road, South Woodford, along with two of her children, Hilda, aged 20, and Edward aged 11. Richard’s father, Frederick was boarding in Dalston at the house of George Chapman, another railway signalman, and stated that he was single. It has not been possible to locate Richard in the 1911 census.
In 1916, when he enlisted, Richard was working as a hotel employee, living at Holmlea, Rickmansworth.
Wartime Service
Richard Wass enlisted at Whitehall in Jan 1916, age 21, giving his mother as his next of kin.
He was quickly promoted from Private to Lance Corporal on 25/2/1916. After about 6 months of training he embarked from Southampton to Havre on 16/6/1916.
The Machine Gun Corps (183rd Company) which had been formed in Grantham, Lincolnshire, joined the 61st Division in France on 19/6/1916. Records for the Laventie Military Cemetery tell us that this sector of the front had been the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of Aubers Ridge a year previously but was considered relatively quiet by mid-1916 and a good place to introduce inexperienced troops to trench warfare. On the evening of 19/6/1916 the 61st Division joined troops of the 5th Australian Division in an attack on enemy positions along Aubers Ridge. Some units managed to advance as far as the enemy wire but no British troops succeeded in entering the German lines. In the first few hours of the attack over 1500 men from the 61st Division had been killed or wounded.
In August 1917 his personal property and medals were to be sent to his mother, now Mrs Emma Bell, Holmlea, Nightingale Road, Rickmansworth. The names and addresses of relatives as given by Emma Bell (Wass) in 1919 gives his father’s address as unknown and his mother at West Cliff Essex. The 1919 electoral roll shows Emma and John Bell at Holmlea, Nightingale Road, later at Whitehorse Road Croydon. The CWGC gives Emma Bell’s address as 109 High Street Rickmansworth.
Additional Information
The inscription on his grave reads: "For Freedom". His effects and War gratuity shared between his mother, Emma, brothers Frederick and Edward, sisters Hilda and Phoebe.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox
