On the Soissons Memorial, France is the name of 14955 Private John Joseph Richardson, serving with the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, who died between 10/10/1918 and 10/01/1919.

The son of Thomas and Mary Richardson, of Boldon Colliery, Co. Durham.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 03/07/1919 reports:
Boldon Colliery Soldiers Experience.
Missing in 1918; Now Reported a Prisoner of War.
The story of a Boldon Colliery soldier who has been officially reported as missing since May 27 1918, and is now known to be a prisoner of war, was related to a Chronicle representative, who was called at the village home of Private J.J. Richardson, 5th Yorkshire Regiment, yesterday.

Joy at the glad news had dispelled the previous sorrow at 3 Coronation Terrace, Station Road, Boldon Colliery, and the circumstances were joyfully explained by the mother, who is sick.

Private Richardson was a miner, 30 years of age, and joined Kitchener’s Army in September 1914, and crossed to France as an expert bomb-thrower the following year, having won a prize for his ability in that work. He served for 3 years in the trenches, being once wounded and once recommended for the D.C.M. which, it is stated, he declined. On June 27, 1918, official word was received that he was missing and a pension was later allotted to the parents.

Word was sent to Boldon to brave their hearts by the captain, who hinted that the soldier might have been captured, but there seemed little hope until a week after the signing of the Armistice, when Private Proctor, a chum in the same company, visited home, and told the relatives that a party of 1,600 men had fallen into the enemy’s hands on a bombing expedition, and had since been compelled by the Huns to carry bombs behind the lines. Joe (referring to Pte. Richardson) is a prisoner, he said, and proceeded to describe how most of the prisoners had been whipped and starved to death.

Richardson, after his capture, had walked to a German hospital, and had received admission. Upon hearing this news a letter was forwarded to Germany, but the curt reply was: We cannot trace him. The War Office was then informed, and it is believed that a searching party found many isolated Britishers behind the lines. The scant official information came in a letter from York announcing that the pension would have to be returned, as the man was a prisoner of war. This was dated June 3 1919.

The parents are still in the dark as to their sons movements, although they are convinced that as soon as travelling is possible, they will see him home and safe and well once more.”

John Joseph Richardson is remembered at Boldon Colliery on B148.03 and B148.05.