Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Croisilles British Cemetery | I. A. 5. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.133 | |
Awards & Titles: | 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Early Life :
A portrait image can be found on Find-a-Grave.Family :
Born in Streatham on 12th February 1891, Henry was the second child, and first son, of Thomas, a wine merchant, and Harriet Elizabeth Richards.Education & Career :
He was educated at Dulwich from 1904 and spent time as a boarder in Elm Lawn before leaving in 1907 whilst a member of the Upper 3rd, to continue his education in Geneva. After leaving the College he became a draper, brewer, wine merchant and was an underwriting member of Lloyd’s of London.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 2/The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) |
2nd Battalion August 1914 : in Pretoria. Returned to England 19 September 1914. Joined 22nd Brigade, 7th Division. Landed at Zeebrugge 6 October 1914. 20 December 1915 : transferred to 91st Brigade, 7th Division. |
| Action : German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line |
The German Army realised that shortening the front line by retiring to better prepared positions would reduce the demand for manpower and offer better defensive capabilities. Accordingly the German engineers constructed what the British referered to as The Hindenburg Line in the sector of the Western Front largely behind (to the East of) the 1916 Somme battlefield. The retreat was done in stages. The official dates covering this period are 14 March to 5 April 1917.
In July 1916 Henry was wounded in the right calf by machine gun fire. He had one bullet removed in Rouen before being evacuated back to England where he had a second removed. After a period of recuperation a medical board passed him fit for active service:
‘The wounds are now quite healed. There is still slight swelling of the foot after walking and the circulation is not fully restored–his nervous system is below par–is restless, not sleeping well–should be fit for some duty in a month’s time’.
Detail :
He returned to France in March 1917 only to be killed in action a month later at Croisilles, in the Pas-de-Calais, on 2 April 1917. He is buried there at Croisilles British Cemetery. In an interesting postscript, in 1936 a letter arrived at the War Office:
‘Dear Sir, We are sorry to trouble you but we have here a gold pencil with a bullet in one end and the pencil is engraved “Lieut. H.H. Richards, wounded by this bullet on the Somme, July 15th 1916”. The pencil was found in the Club Enclosure at Lewes races, August 7th 1936. As, no doubt, the pencil has great sentimental value, we shall be obliged if you can kindly put us in touch with Lieut. Richards or any of his relations’.
Probate RICHARDS Henry Heaton of Engadine 42 Palace-road Streatham Surrey died 2 April 1917 in France Probate London 31 May to Harriet Elizabeth Richards (wife of Thomas Richards). Effects £1473 12s 5d.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Fellowship No. 2535 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
3rd November 1913 | - | - |
Listed as a Wine Merchant. Advanced no further than that of Entered Apprentice. He was the Lodge Inner Guard. War service is recorded followed by "Killed in action May 1917," which is a little time after the official record.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley