GUNNER 148269 FRANK OLIVER RICHARDSON
ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
1892 – 1917
Frank was born circa 1892 in Capel St Mary Suffolk, his parents were Walter George Robert Richardson and Elizabeth Ann Richardson nee Skeet, they married in the Samford registration district in 1889, they had three children. The siblings were Florence Caroline b1890 married James Skeet 1913, d1941, Frank Oliver b1892 d1917 Belgium, Ernest Walter b1899 d1919 France, all three children were born in Capel St Mary Suffolk. Their father who was employed as a farm worker was born in 1869 in Capel St Mary and died 1941. Their mother was born 1869 in Stratford St Mary Essex and died in 1945. The children were educated in Capel School and upon leaving, Frank was a Farm Labourer Florence worked in London as a Domestic Servant and Ernest worked as a Stockman on a farm.
Frank enlisted in London in the Royal Field Artillery becoming Gunner 148269 Richardson possibly in 1916, he could have joined earlier and been based in England but as there is no issue of the 1914 or 1914-1915 Star he did not serve abroad until 1916. No service record exists as to when he actually joined most first world war records were lost in air raids during the second world war. Frank was killed in action on 17th August 1917 possibly during third battle of Ypres. His younger brother Ernest would later die while on garrison duty in 1919 from Bronco-pneumonia.
Frank is remembered with Honour at Artillery Wood Cemetery Boezhinge Belgium. Grave Memorial 1.A.23
He also remembered on Brass Plaque in St Mary’s Church Capel St Mary.
Frank was posthumously awarded:
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•The British War Medal 1914-1918
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•The Victory Medal 1914-1919
His Next of Kin would also have received The Memorial Plaque and Scroll.
