Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
John was born in 1884 at Merrington the son of James and Elizabeth. The couple had 7 children but sadly 3 died.
1891 James was a bricklayer’s labourer. His children were Mary, Rose, Ellen, John and James. James was born in 1835 which makes him an older father to his children.
By 1901 the family was somewhat depleted as members had moved on with their lives. James (aged 66 years) was still working as a mason’s labourer. His sister Elizabeth was working on her own account as a dressmaker whilst John, like his father, worked as a mason’s labourer.
1911 census shows John being the only family member still living at home with his parents. His father was by now a state pensioner. John still worked as a labourer.
John joined the Army and originally served as number 190766 with the Royal Engineers. At some point he was transferred to 1/6th Durham Light Infantry with another number 273109.
He was sent to France although dates are not available at this time.
He was captured on May 27th 1918 at Craonne during the Third Battle of the Aisne. The Third Battle of the Aisne came as a complete surprise to the allies, including British troops who had been sent there to rest in a quiet sector. A German breakthrough was aided by orders of a French general to mass troops in the front line – a tactic by this date discredited. The penetration broke into open country and fighting went on from 27 May to 6 June 1918, but ran out of energy owing to lack of a strategic objective and lengthening supply lines.
John's POW number was P40921. After spending 5 months at the camp at Spenick he died of sickness on October 10th 1918.
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal
John Richardson is remembered in Kirk Merrington on K26.01 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 280
