Pte 69634 Walter Richardson

• Age: 39
• From: Warrington, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• Died Friday 16th March 1917
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: O.VII.H.5

Walter Richardson was born in Warrington in early 1877 and was baptised on 13th April 1877 in St. Elphin's Church, Warrington. He was the son of Thomas Richardson and his wife Ann (nee Thomason) of 30 Ellesmere Street, Warrington. They had married in June 1866 in Warrington. His father was a widower with a number of children. Walter had older siblings Thomas, Sarah, John William, and James (who died in infancy), and a younger sister Jane.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 30 Ellesmere Street, Warrington. His father Thomas is aged 51, born 1830 in Warrington and is a boot and shoe dealer, his mother Ann is aged 43, born 1838 in Warrington and has no occupation listed. They have eight children in the household at the time of the Census, all born in Warrington; Theophilus is a 24 year old boot and shoe dealer, Henry is a 20 year old tanner, Agnes is an 18 cotton weaver, Thomas is a 14 year old scholar, Sarah is 10, John is 8,  Walter is 3 and Jane is 1 year old.  Theophilus, Henry, and Agnes are from his father's first marriage.

The 1891 Census shows the family still living at 30 Ellesmere Street, Warrington. His  father Thomas is now shown as aged 54, born 1837 in Warrington and is a shoe dealer, his wife Ann is aged 48, born 1843 in Warrington and has no occupation listed. They have five children at the time of the Census, who were all born in Warrington, Thomas aged 24, born 1867 is a labourer, Sarah aged 23 born 1868 is a weaver, John aged 18, born 1873 is a tanner, Walter aged 14, born 1877 is a driller and Jane aged 12, born 1879 is a scholar.   

Walter married Alice Spencer 20th September 1900 at St. Elphin's Church.

The 1901 Census shows Walter and his family living at 6 Harbord Street, Warrington. Walter is aged 23 and employed as an iron moulder, his wife Alice is also aged 23, she has no occupation listed and was born in Warrington. They have a daughter, Margaret, born in Warrington in 1901, she is five months old. Sadly, Margaret died a few months later, before her first birthday.

His parents (mother listed as Sarah A.) are still at 30 Ellesmere Street with Thomas, John, and Jane. Theophilus is married and lives next door with his large family.

Walter and Alice had seven more children, all baptised in St. Elphin's church: John was born later in 1901, followed by Arthur (who died at 4 months), Walter, twins Ann and Elizabeth (Ann lived 5 months and Elizabeth 3 months), William, and Alice.

His mother appears to have died in 1903 and his father in 1907.

The 1911 Census shows Walter and his family still living at 6 Harbord Street, Warrington. Walter is aged 34 and employed as a labourer in a leather tannery, his wife Alice is aged 32, (now showing born in 1879) and has no occupation listed. They have been married for 11 years and have had eight children of which four had died. Their four surviving children are; John aged 9, Walter junior is aged 6, born 1905 and Willie is aged 3, born 1908, and Alice, 9 months old.

Alice died a few months later, at 1 year old, leaving three surviving children, John, Walter, and William.

Walter enlisted in Warrington. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that Walter enlisted no earlier than March 1916, perhaps after conscription for married men was introduced in May that year.

He was serving with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 69634 when he died of pericarditis and valvular disease of the heart contracted on active service, on 16th March 1917, aged 39.  

Walter now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Walter is also commemorated on the Warrington War Memorial.

The medal roll shows him in 17th Labour Coy. K.L.R. His CWGC record shows 7th Bn K.L.R. (Graves Registration 7th Inf. Labour Bn. K.L.R.)

Soldiers Effects to widow Alice, Pension to Alice and children John, Walter and William. His sons were 15, 11, and 7 years old when Walter died.

His widow Alice received his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3, and was awarded a pension of £1-6s-3d a week for herself and three minor children, decreasing when each child reached the age of 16. (John was born on 11/11/1901, Walter 19/04/1905, and William 02/04/1908.)

His widow Alice later remarried and her details are shown on the CWGC website as Alice Spencer (formerly Richardson) of 6 Harbord Street, Warrington. No marriage for Alice Richardson to a Spencer has been found.  It appears she reverted (temporarily) to her maiden name for some reason (or an error was made in the CWGC records).

Alice Richardson died in 1928 aged 50, still living in Harbord Street, and was buried in St. Elphin's churchyard.

On the 1939 register son John lived with his brother Walter and his family at 6 Harbord Street; both worked in a tannery. William has not been found in 1939 but his wife and children were living in Parr Street, Warrington.

We currently have no further information on Walter Richardson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.