Name
Richard James Maynard
16 April 1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/11/1914
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
5/8097
Rifle Brigade
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Richard James Maynard was born in Canning Town/Poplar, London on 16 April 1878, the son of Richard and Marion Maynard (Nee Wood).
He was baptised on 27 March 1884 at Christchurch, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London (at the same time as his siblings Marion, born 1879 and Elizabeth, born 1883).
He was educated firstly at Cubitt Town School, Tower Hamlets from 17 March 1884 when his home address was given as 12 Barque Street, then at Oban Street School, Tower Hamlets from 29 September 1886 when his home address was given as 184 Lever Road, but he left the school in December the same year.
On the 1881 Census he was living with his uncle and aunt Richard and Jane Hall at 102 Lever Street, St Luke, Finsbury, London and by 1901 was living at 5 Naval Row South, Poplar with his mother and brothers Arthur and Alfred. It is believed his father died in 1898 and his mother in 1902.
Richard enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in Poplar, London on 4 July 1906 at which time he gave his occupation as Carman.
He married Mary Shirley on 16 November 1907 at Great Berkhamsted, Herts and in 1911 was living with his wife and 3 year old son Richard at 22 Red Lion Yard, Berkhamsted, Herts and working as a labourer in the building trade. His brother Arthur was residing with them and his sister Marion was visiting with her three children. His son Arthur James was born in 1912.
Wartime Service
It is assumed he was recalled as a reservist soldier on the outbreak of war and landed at Le Havre as part of the 11th Brigade, serving with the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade in France from 24 August 1914.
He would have seen action in the Battles of the Marne and Aisne in September 1914 and the Battle of Messines in October 1914. Battalion war diary records that on 13 November 1914 they moved to trenches at St Ives, south of Ypres where they remained until 20 November.
Richard was killed in action on 7 November 1914. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £3 1s 0d was divided between his wife and children. She also received a pension of 18s 6d a week for herself and sons William and Arthur.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
