Tyneside Scottish Badge
Medal Card
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
Benjamin Riches was born at Cambois in 1887 to parents Henry Riches, a miner from Norfolk and Barbara Riches who was born at Cowpen Northumberland. His parents married about 1870.
The 1901 Census shows Benjamin was 14 years old, working in the coal mines as a colliery labourer and living at 20, Watergate, Cambois. In the family house at this time are siblings Henry 22, James 20, Susan 24, Polly 16, Barbara 16 and Jane aged eleven.
The Riches family, including Benjamin who was now a hewer in the coal mines, was still living at 20, Watergate in 1911.
CWGC documents confirm Benjamin was the son of the late Henry and Barbara Riches.
Military records show Benjamin enlisted at Blyth in Northumberland and on his death his effects went to his father Henry indicating he was not married. Benjamin died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Benjamin Riches is remembered in Cambois on C6.02
