W.L. Richardson
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
Walter Luke Richardson was born in the last quarter of 1881 at Rothbury, Northumberland to parents Robert and Ann Richardson. His father, a farm labourer, was from Whittingham, Northumberland, and his mother was born at Berwick.
In 1891 Walter was nine years old and living with his parents at Shothaugh East/West Thriston, Northumberland. In the house at this time were siblings Edward 7, Margaret 2 and Mary nearly six months old.
In 1901, there were eight children in the Richardson household and Walter aged 19 was an agriculture labourer; additional siblings at home included John 21, William 8, Edith 6 and Andrew aged 1. The family at this time was living at Hirst Head Farm, Bedlington.
In 1903 Walter married Mary Geggie at Morpeth, Northumberland and by 1911 Walter and Mary had four children: George 7, Barbara 5, Jennie 2, and Maggie aged 1; at this time they were living at Foggans Yard, Bedlington. Walter was working as a coal miner and the census for that year shows he has been married for eight years. The census also shows that there were six people living in one room. <
Walter enlisted at Bedlington when living at 75, Yard Row, Netherton, a village near Bedlington. CWGC records show his wife was still living at this address at the end of the war. Walter died 7th June 1917 aged 36 years; his effects went to his widow Mary.
Walter Luke Richardson is remembered in Bedlington on B15.26 page 116
