Name
Albert Reginald Richardson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/12/1915
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
16438
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Charles and Elizabeth (nee PAGE) RICHARDSON; husband of Amy Maud Ellen (nee CLARKE) RICHARDSON of Bedford.
His parents married 29 May 1858 at St Paul’s, Bedford. Charles died 1884 aged 49; Elizabeth died 1914 aged 77; both in the Bedford district.
Albert was born 1 March 1884 in Bedford, and baptised 24 August 1884 at St Peter’s, Bedford. He attended first St Paul’s Infants’ School, Bedford; then Harpur Trust Boys’ School, Bedford, from 3 November 1891 to 3 November 1896. He married 2 June 1906 at St Peter’s, Bedford; they had two children. He resided in Watford. Amy never remarried, and died 1938 in the Thrapston, Northants, district aged 56.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 7 he lived in Bedford, with his widowed mother and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, a plumber aged 17 he still lived in Bedford, with his widowed mother and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a warehouseman at chocolate works aged 27, he lived in Watford, with his wife and one child.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and was killed in action during intense shelling near Forward Cottage, Ypres.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Albert’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is an article about and a Death announcement for Albert in the West Herts and Watford Observerdated 22 January 1916.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
