Ropery Lane; CLS Heritage Group
In Ropery Lane Cemetery, Chester-le-Street section J541 is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
THOMAS
beloved husband of
ISABELLA RICHARDSON
who died 27th April 1939 aged 74 years
Also JOHN dearly beloved son
of the above who died in Germany
20th April 1918 aged 24 years
Also ISABELLA
Who died 13th June 1953 aged 84 years
William Kirby has submitted the following:-
John was born in 1894 at Beamish the only son of Thomas and Isabella Richardson. In 1901 the family were living at 2 Wesley Place, Pelton Fell. Tom was a Journeyman Tailor. Daughter Ebie was born in 1896 at Pelton Fell.
By 1911 the family had moved to Victoria Terrace and Tom was a tailor for Cooperative Society and John (17) was a railway clerk for the North East Railway. He was in the Accountant's Office at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1916.
John was still living at 4 Victoria Terrace, Pelton Fell when he enlisted in 1916 and joined the Durham Light Infantry. He was in the 10th and then 14th Battalions before finally moving to the 2nd Battalion.
John disembarked 10th January 1917 and suffered a number of wounds in 1917. He was taken prisoner in March 1918 and died 20th April 1918 at the Reserve Hospital, Division Berghsserne. His parents added "Loved in Life, Lamented in Death" to his CWGC headstone.
Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Richardson is remembered at Chester-le-Street on C105.01, C105.12, C105.14,C105.15, and C105.40 at Pelton on P26.02 at Pelton Fell on P27.01 and P27.05 and in Newcastle at NUT010
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 91
