Name
Richard James Batchelor
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
12094
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Richard Batchelor was born on 15th March 1889 at Primrose Hill, Abbots Langley. He was baptised on 23rd June 1889 at Kings Langley. His parents Richard and Florence Batchelor had two sons and two daughters. Richard (senior) worked as a Baker, probably in Kings Langley. By 1901 the Census records the family living at 1 Asylum Terrace, Asylum Road, Abbots Langley, and they remained at the same property until after the 1911 Census was taken. In both 1901 and 1911 Census, Attendants from the nearby Asylum were recorded lodging with the Batchelor family. By this time Richard (senior) was working as a Builder’s Labourer, and in 1911 Richard (junior) worked as a Gardner, as did his younger brother Hedley. At some time between 1911 and 1914 Hedley emigrated to Canada and returned to serve with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Richard Batchelor was listed for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in October 1914, the same month as his brother Hedley was recorded. At this point he was serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment, and it was not until April 1915 that he was recorded with a specific Battalion within the Bedfordshire Regiment. This suggested that having attested he was sent home to await the call to mobilise, which came in March/April 1915.
Richard’s Medal Roll indicated that he disembarked in France on 30th July 1915. On 21st April 1915 the 6th Bedfordshire’s moved to Cholderton on the south-east boundary of Salisbury Plain to prepare for their entry to the War. On 29th July the Battalion entrained at Ludgershall Station (7 miles north-west of Andover) and by late afternoon had arrived at Southampton. They set sail on SS “Empress Queen” at 6.30pm and arrived at Le Harve at 7.00am on 30th July 1915. The Battalion was first in action at Fonquvillers on 5th September 1915.The 6th Bedfordshire’s served on the Western Front throughout the War until in May 1918 the Battalion’s remaining men were transferred to bolster the 1st Hertfordshire’s. The Parish Roll of Honour recorded that Richard remained with the 6th Bedford’s each month through this period, probably serving throughout the Battles of Bazentin, Pozieres and The Ancre between July and November 1916. In April 1917 the battalion was called upon three times during the Arras offensive. On 10th and 24th April it fought at the First and Second Battles of The Scarpe, and on 28th April went back into the Front Line at Greenland Hill and the “Chemical Works” during the Battle of Arleux. Only 58 men returned unscathed from this engagement, and it is most likely that Richard was wounded on this day.
In May 1917 the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine noted that Richard Batchelor of the 6th Bedfordshire’s had been reported sick/wounded. Richard was reported each month still serving with the 6th Bedfordshire’s in the Parish Roll of Honour after this point,. It is presumed that he returned to the battalion after recovery. He ended the War serving with the 3rd Bedfordshire’s, a battalion that was stationed at Bedford throughout the conflict.
Richard was recorded in the Absent Voter Records in Autumn 1918 and September 1919 serving as a Lance Corporal with 3rd Bedfordshire’s, and his address was given at Asylum Road, Abbots Langley. His Medal Card noted that by the end of his period of service he had attained the rank of Corporal.
Both Richard and Hedley Batchelor survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
