Son of William and Sarah J. Richardson, of ‘Kelvinside,’ 3 Ettrick Grove, Sunderland.
Linda Gowans has submitted the following:-
William Harold was born in 1893. In 1901 the family is at 14 Cleveland Road: his father, from Newcastle, is a Shipyard Accountant, his mother Sarah and the children were all born in Sunderland. In 1911 father William was now a Shipbuilder’s Secretary, and there are five children; William Harold is an Apprentice Draughtsman in a shipyard. William senior may well be the W. Richardson who was the first Secretary and Treasurer of St. Gabriel’s Parish Magazine in 1905, served on the Church Council, as Churchwarden, and on the Working Committee formed to prepare the Church Hall for use as a wartime hospital. By the early 1920s, when their son’s medals were sent to his parents, their address was Ettrick Grove.
William Harold seems to have used his middle name, and is probably the Harold Richardson who attended the first Boys’ Camp in 1912; he was certainly at camp in 1914. His Army records do not appear to have survived: we know only from a Medals Rolls Index Card that his first service was as 629, Acting Bombardier, Royal Garrison Artillery, before transferring to the 6th (Territorial) Battalion of the DLI. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1915 and went to France on July 10th 1916.
In 1917 his Battalion was involved in the Battles of Arras, and is known to have taken part in the Capture of Wancourt Ridge. The ruins of an old windmill, Wancourt Tower, provided the only local observation point but were behind the German lines. By nightfall on April 13th two companies of 9th DLI were dug in close by. The following day, 6th DLI were part of the advance which captured the German trenches in front of the Tower. Attack and counter-attack continued, but Lieutenant Richardson appears to have died that day.
We do not know where he was originally buried, but it was probably at Signal Trench Cemetery, Heninel. The CWGC records that, ‘Here, on the far side of the ridge between Wancourt and Cherisy, “in a rather broken part of the British front line,” 22 British soldiers were buried in April and May 1917.’ The grave, marked with a simple cross, was moved on August 21st 1919 to Wancourt British Military Cemetery, about 8 km. south of Arras.
The Sunderland Echo 21/04/1917 reports:-
SECOND-LIEUT. W. H. RICHARDSON KILLED.
Mr William Richardson, of Kelvinside, Ettrick Grove, Sunderland, secretary of Sir James Laing and Sons, Ltd., has received official intimation that his eldest son, Second-Lieut. William Harold Richardson, D.L.1., was killed in action on the 14th inst. Second-Lieut. Richardson, who was 24 years of age, was, prior to having volunteered early after war was declared, ships draftsman with Sir James Laing and Sons, Ltd. He enlisted in the Durham Heavy Battery, and was given a commission in the D.L.I. in October, 1915. He went out the front July, 1916, and after taking part in the Somme fight contracted trench feet. He subsequently returned home sick leave. Following his recovery February last re-joined his battalion the front. The deceased officer was educated at the Bede School, and was member St. Gabriel’s Church. He won by his kindly and cheerful disposition a large circle of friends. He has a younger brother at the front, Second-Lieutenant with the Northumberland Fusiliers. Second - Lieut. Richardson was unmarried. The news of his death will received with great regret by all who knew him.
The Sunderland Echo 23/06/1917 reports:-
FORTY YEARS’ SERVICE Presentations to Mr Wm. RichardsonThe presentation to Mr Wm. Richardson by the foremen at Sir James Laing and Sons, Ltd. Deptford Yard, which was notified in our Saturday's issue, was but one number which Mr Richardson has received. The gifts have been made in connection with the completion of Mr Richardson 40 years’ service with the firm. He went there on April 23rd, 1877, as office boy, and he had advanced through the various grades to the position of secretary to the company, in which he succeeded the late Mr John Lloyd the latter's retirement December 31st 1906. The firm itself marked the occasion of his completion of 40 years' service by a particularly handsome gilt consisting of solid silver tea and coffee service and tray, in addition which Mr Hugh Laing handed to Richardson, as a mark of personal esteem, a solid silver cigarette case also suitably inscribed. The members of the commercial staff and others gave Mr Richardson a pair of gold pince-nez together with a double photograph pendant for Mrs Richardson. The gifts of the foremen were a framed enlarged photograph of his son, 2nd-Lieut. Wm. Harold Richardson, of the D L I, who was killed action in April last, and a silver-mounted umbrella. The presentations and the kindly expressions with which they were accompanied, were greatly appreciated the recipient, who acknowledged them in appropriate terms.
The Bedan Magazine July 1917 reports:-
SECOND LIEUTENANT WM. HAROLD RICHARDSON
24. Son of Mr Wm. Richardson, Ettrick Grove Sunderland. At the School from '06 to '09. Brother of Second Lieutenant Hugh B. Richardson N.F. an old Bedan. Was a ship's draughtsman at Laing's. Enlisted in R.G.A. Gazetted to D.L.I. October 1915. Killed April 14 1917.
William Harold Richardson is remembered at Sunderland on S140.009, S140.010, S140.017 and S140.048 part 9
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 84
