Durham Light Infantry
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
William Richardson was born at Throphill, Mitford near Morpeth in 1892 to parents Robert and Ann Richardson.
In 1901 William was eight years old and his family was living at Hirst Head Farm where his father Robert was a farm steward. His parents at this time had eight children. They were John 21, Walter 19, Edward 17, Margaret 12, Mary 10, Edith and Andrew aged 1.
By 1911 his parents had been married 23 years and were living at Hirst Head where his father was an agricultural labourer as was William who was now age 18. Siblings in the house include Edith May 15, Mary Ann who was single, aged 20, Andrew 11, and Joseph 2.
At the time of his enlistment William was living at Hirst Head, Bedlington and all indications are that he was single; his effects went to his father Robert. Williams’s parents were living at 1, West View Bedlington Station after his death. The military record ‘In the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914- 1919’ shows William enlisted at Gosforth Park, Northumberland near to Newcastle and he was formerly in the Northumberland Hussars with the service number 1322.
William Richardson is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.07, B15.09, B15.20 and B15.26 page 58
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 276
