Photo: Brian Chandler
Formation sign of the 46th Infantry Division.
J.H. Richardson
The Durham Light Infantry
25th April 1941 age 29.
Ever lovingly remembered
And deeply mourned
By his wife and family
R.I.P.
John Henry Richardson was the son of John, [born 1878, at Willington Quay], a General Labourer, and Christina Richardson, [born 1882, Sunderland], both were residing at 17 Back of Forth Street, Wallsend, Northumberland, in 1939 with their son Benjamin, [born 1908 at Willington Quay] and a step son, [born 1903 at Wallsend]. John was married to a May Richardson of Willington Quay.
John Henry Richardson was found in Headlam Street, at 02.00am on the 26th April 1941. He was 5 feet 9 inches high, dark hair and was found dead in his uniform. Also was a Roman Catholic. He was identified by the badges he wearing on his uniform at the time of death.
The report noted that the uniform had a Tree Badge on the shoulder also 3 red bars.
John Richardson was in the 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, which was one of the battalions in the 139th Infantry Brigade. This brigade was attached to the 46th (North Midland and West Riding ) Division. This was the junior Brigade, as indicated by the 3 scarlet (not red) stripes on his uniform, usually located on the upper arm below the Divisional badge. This is also confirmed on the report 'a tree badge':
The 46th (North Midland and West Riding) Division* badge is a tree, the Sherwood Forest oak, set on a black square. It was adopted by the 46th Division- an appropriate badge for this Territorial Army Division composed of Territorials of the North Midland counties. The tree had a brown trunk and green foliage and was picked out with a narrow white border. The oak is emblematic of strength and reliability.
*Designation taken from Army Council Instruction NO 337/1940 (April 1940).
John was killed on the night/morning of the 25/26th April by the bombing of the North East by the German Luftwaffe, whilst on leave.
His body was identified by C. Richardson of 25 Firtree Avenue, Howden-on-Tyne. Clothing and effects were received by E. Richardson of 25 Firtree Avenue, Howden-on-Tyne. The clothing consisted of 1 pair trousers, 1 Shirt, 1 Vest, 1 Pair of pants, 1 pair of socks, 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of braces and a hat. The effects consisted of two farthings, one chain and two crosses.
John Henry Richardson is remembered at Wallsend in W7.39 page 4, in Willington Quay on W56.12 slide 63 and at Durham in D47.014a page 22
History of the 46th Infantry Division in WW2
The CWGC entry for Private Richardson
