John Richardson

Name

John Richardson

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

22/03/1918
26

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Sapper
552295
Royal Engineers
518th Field Coy.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

Not Yet Researched

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
VIII. E. 13. Sp. Mem. Buried near this spot.
France

Headstone Inscription

Not Researched

UK & Other Memorials

Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Dagmar House School Memorial, Hatfield, Not on the Bishops Hatfield memorials

Pre War

John was the son of William John and Frances Richardson of Park St. Hatfield and born about 1892.

In the 1901 Census: John was 9 and living with his Father and Mother, William and Frances as well as his brother and sister in Park Street, Hatfield.  His father was a builder (employer). 

John Richardson was a pupil at the Hatfield Collegiate Schools, Dagmar House.  There is a memorial to the pupils that were killed in the Great War in St Etheldreda’s Church.

By 1911 John, now 19, was now a boarding in the house of Mrs Louisa How at 24 Luna Street, Chelsea, London.  John is working as a carpenter (house builder).

Officially recorded living in Hatfield when he enlisted in Chelsea, Middlx.

Wartime Service

John became Sapper 552295, Corps of Royal Engineers, formerly service no. -1508

The Bishop’ Hatfield Parish Magazine of January, 1916, in ‘Extracts from Letters from the Front’:

21st November 1915

...........As I have seen a few letters in the Parish magazine from different chaps out here I thought I would like to let you know a few of my experiences.  I came out in March with.........the division that was billeted around Hatfield and St Albans.  On reaching France I with twenty other men, was left at the base at Havre as reinforcements.  Here we spent a fairly decent time, as we were attached to the regular R.E.s for work in the numerous Camps. And so we had a good deal more freedom than some of the other corps in the Camps.  I spent seven weeks at the Base, and joined my Company at the line just before the battle of Festubert, in which my Company played a big part, being right in the thick of it.  I can remember the sensation one of our section caused when they were returning from the line the next day; every man had got a Prussians Guard’s helmet, and as they came into the village they all put them on.  It was a sight the French people nearly went mad with delight.  After Festubert we moved back and a bit further on to the right of the line on to a position recently occupied by the French.  Here we were billeted in a brewery .............Here we were engaged in digging in a new trench in advance of the one occupied by us. So as to straighten up the line a bit and putting out barbed wire entanglements.  While at this billet we had a few rather exciting experiences of the German shells and some narrow squeaks we had too; but luckily we had very few casualties indeed.  On day in particular I remember.  The Germans started shelling a little to our left, where some of our artillery were, and then they came gradually nearer to our billet.  The first shell near to our billet killed ten horses, the next went into the roof of a farm building just behind; No.3 went bang clean through the roof of the billet where two minutes before about twenty of our chaps were having tea; but somehow they had all cleared out when they heard the first two shells, so no one was hit.  After that we used to get a few over-nearly every day, but nearly all were wide of the billet.  One night we all went out in front wiring, the Germans spotted us, and turned the machine guns on us.  Down we all went as close to Mother earth as possible and it was not very pleasant to hear the bullets going ping against the wire.  We waited till they stopped and then tried to get on with our work, but they would not let us.  Every time we started they started the machine gun; so at last we received orders to get in as best we could.  So we waited till all was quiet, and then one at a time a time made for the end of the sap;  and we did not trouble how we went in, and right thankful we were to get in, with only two men hit and that wounded.  After two months of this part of the line we received orders to take over a position from the French further to the right.  Here we had to prepare a new front line again ready for the attack on Loos. In this attack we were again in the thick of it, and we gave the Germans a taste of our worth that time.  Gee, you should have seen them run when we got past their first line.  They properly got the wind up and hooked it, with our boys and the Jocks on our left in full pelt after them.  The R.E.’s had so far to go, and then stop and to start to consolidate the position, and we had to work like very devils, as the Germans tried a counter attack;  but they lost a terrible number of men and gained nothing.  We are now back for a rest, the first we have had for seven months.  When I say rest, it only means being away from the line, and we have to do all sorts of work.  At present we are building huts.  I have seen the report of the  Zepps visiting England.......and I am glad they did no damage to Hatfield.  I am afraid the Germans have not been satisfied with the results of their much talked about Zepps.  Well, now I must close, wishing all the best of luck to all in Hatfield."

J. Richardson. 4th London Field Co., R.E.

Then in the of May 1918: “John Richardson ......reported missing. Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine, June 1918: Hatfield Roll of Honour – Four of the best of us are reported missing alas, John Richardson, Herbert and Robert Hall and Harry Randall; it would have been hard to pick four finer types of young manhood, our thoughts and prayers are indeed with those who watch and wait."

The Herts Advertiser dated 4th May 1918, reported: “Missing Hatfield men – John Richardson

Mr & Mrs W J Richardson of Park St. Hatfield have received information from the War Office that their older son Sapper John Richardson, R E, has been missing since Mar 20/21.

Sapper Richardson who was in business with his father joined the R E directly after the war broke out and went, in early 1915, to France where he has been continuously with the exception of one or two leaves. 

Mr and Mrs Richardson had not heard from their son for some weeks but a letter from one of his comrades informed them that the last he heard from him was that he and his comrades were holding on to a trench under heavy German fire.

Awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1915 Star

Additional Information

John is also commemorated on the family headstone in Bishop's Hatfield (St. Luke) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:

Acknowledgments

Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)