He was the son of Andrew and Jemima Richardson, of Reivers Well Lodge, Cragside, Rothbury, Northumberland.
In 1911 the family lived in Wingates, aged 15, James was listed as pony driver underground.
Morpeth Herald 05/01/1917 carries a brief obituary:
Serg. James A. [sic] Richardson, N.F., of Great Tosson, Rothbury, son of Mr A. Richardson (gamekeeper with Lord Armstrong), is reported to have been killed in November. He was 21 years of age, and joined the Territorials in 1914.
See The Valley Remembers; Upper Coquetdale WW1 Project; 2014; © A.F.C. Hunter; page 64
His older brother William Richardson also fell. A younger brother, Andrew, served.
James Robert Richardson is remembered at Alwinton on A12.02 at Rothbury on R24.01 R24.02 R24.04 R24.16, at Thropton on T16.01, at Wingates on W58.01A11.59