St Cuthbert's Parish Church and war memorial,

Francis Aymer Richardson was born on the 6th January 1883, the son of (the late) Reverend Francis Richardson, of Corbridge-on-Tyne, and his wife Frances, daughter of William Pearson of Manchester, at Carlisle, Cumberland.

He was educated at the Seascale Preparatory School and Richmond School.

Francis was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in September 1915, to the Royal Field Artillery. Then promoted in 1916 to Lieutenant, served in France and Flanders from January 1916.

The 250th Brigade was part of the [1st Northumbrian Brigade], of the Royal Field Artillery which served with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of the British Army.

The 50th Division was a Territorial division formed in 1908 as one of 14 divisions of the peace time Territorial Force. They had just departed for their annual summer camp went the War broke out. It was mobilised on the 5th August 1914.

The 250th Brigade consisted after 1917, of 4 batteries 'A' 'B' 'C' and 'D' the first three batteries contained 6 each, 18 pounder Ordnance Quick Firing Artillery guns and 'D' Battery contained 6 4.5 Inch Howitzer artillery guns.

At the start of the Second Boer war in 1899 the War Office decreed that no volunteer artillery units should be sent out to South Africa. However, Lady Meux, the wife of one of the directors of Armstrong Whitworth Arms Company, had six 12-pounder field guns made by the ordnance works at Elswick. These were presented to Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who directed they should be used to equip the battery at Elswick so they would be manned by the men who built them. Formed on the 31st January 1900 the 'Elswick Battery', as it was now known, marched to Newcastle upon Tyne town hall to be sworn in before the Lord Mayor of Newcastle. The Battery arrived in South Africa in April 1900 and fought with distinction until June 1901, when the Battery - now at Elandsfontein - was demobilised, handing its guns over to an artillery militia unit which had arrived from Britain. They left South Africa at the end of June and arrived back in England on l6th July, 1901.

Although the success of the Elswick battery had been recognised they were specialist trained men and were not a true representation of the volunteer artillery movement as a whole. Even before the turn of the century it was apparent that the volunteers were not capable of providing an effective reserve for the army. In 1902 there were again changes and the 1st NVA became 1st Northumberland Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers). The Norfolk Commission, looking into the militia and volunteers units, published their findings in 1907 which resulted in the Territorial Reserve Forces Act being introduced. Under this act the Territorial Force was formed and organised into regional divisions, area brigades and local battalions. The 1st Northumbrian RGA was again re-designated; it was now the 1st Northumbrian Brigade (Royal Field Artillery) with three batteries and an ammunition column, part of the Northumbrian Division. As territorials they were now provided with uniforms, paid per day while on camp and were subject to military law. As a force they were now on a much better footing to support the regular army.

By mid August 1914 the 1st Northumbrian Brigade was equipped with the BLC 15-pounder gun which was a modernised version of the obsolete BL 15-pounder, now incorporating a recoil mechanism above the barrel and modified quick-opening breech. In early April 1915 the Division was warned that it would be going on overseas service and by the 23rd April the 1st (N) Bde had moved from its training area at Gosforth Park Racecourse to a harbour area just to the west of Ypres. The 1st Brigade along with its infantry brigade arrived just in time to go into the action, but due to limited supplies of ammunition the 1st Brigade was not directly involved it the battle, unlike the infantry brigade which was not so lucky, receiving 70% casualties. Due to there being very limited supplies of the outdated 15-pdr ammunition the Brigadede took no part in any serious action until they were re-equipped with the new 18-pounder in October 1915. After some familiarisation training they were soon back in the line in time to give the Germans three good salvos on New Year's morning 1916. In March the 1st Northumbria Brigadede took part in their first major battle of the Ypres Salient. The weather was bitterly cold and accounted for more casualties than the enemy but the Brigade did well in its first action.

By the beginning of April 1916 the Brigade was replaced in the line and a fourth battery was raised. The new battery was ready by the middle of May but was taken to form a new 18-pdr Brigade, while the batteries of 4th Durham Howitzer Brigade were distributed to replace them. It was also at this time the Army reorganised the RFA and the 1st Northumbrian was re-titled the 250th Brigade and the batteries titled with letters (rather than numbers) 'A' to 'D', with 'D' being the howitzer battery.

The Battery went overseas on the 30th December 1916.

The Third Battle of the Aisne was the battle in which Francis was killed. It was a battle of the German Spring Offensive, known as the Kaiserschlact which was launched in the Spring and Summer of 1918. The 50th Division was resting in the Chemin des Dames Ridge area after already surviving the first of the German offensives.

The woods were full of violets, lilies of the valley and flowers of all kinds...the artillery units, back from the front line trenches had 'the most perfect observation posts they had ever seen, and the walk to them through the wood was delightful...' 'This is the place we have long been seeking..
Source : The Fiftieth Division 1914-1919 Everard Wyrall.

The Divisional History continues...
"No guns were ... saved."Such is a portion of the Divisional Narrative which tells of the misfortunes of the 250th and 251st Brigades, RFA, under the commands respectively of Lieut-Colonel FGO Johnson and Lieut-Colonel FR Moss-Blundell. On the right, the 250th Brigade kept their guns in action longer than the 251st Brigade, for the latter was quickly enveloped from the left.

The narrative contained in the war diary of the former brigade is interesting as showing the battle from the gunners' point of view: At 1 a.m. the enemy bombardment commenced. All lines went down within five minutes. Bombardment was very heavy on all forward areas and on battery positions and head-quarters. S.O.S. went up about 4 a.m. No information was received about the positions of the infantry or state of batteries; orderlies sent out were almost invariably missing. News received about 4.30 am from C/250 through an infantry officer attached to them. At 3 a.m., when he left, only one gun was in action, remainder having been hit. About 6.30 a.m. Major Shiel and Lieut[enant] Richardson arrived at headquarters and say that A/250 had removed sights and breach mechanism as the creeping barrage has passed them, and the enemy are about eight hundred yards in front of them.

Second-Lieut[enant] Hopwood had reported from B/250 that they were still fighting with three of the four guns on their main position. A message had also been received that D/250 were continuing to fire. No further news received from C/250. From information received later, personnel from B/250's main position nearly all got away when the enemy arrived on the position. Very few got away from detached section of B, but fair number from detached section of A/250. Very few got away from D/250. Capt. Darling was last seen going towards the enemy with his revolver and Lieut[enant] Earle and remaining gunners were firing the last gun left in action. No one got away from main position of C/250, but most of the detachments got away from detached section where Second-Lieutenant Costar was last seen going towards the enemy with his revolver.

On the morning of the 27th May 1918 the Germans began a bombardment of the Allied front line with over 4000 artillery pieces. The British suffered heavy losses due to the troops being massed in the front trenches on orders from the French Commander Denis Auguste Duchene, in direct contradiction to Commander in Chief Henri-Phillippe Petain orders. The bombardment was followed up by a poison gas attack. The Germans attacked with 17 Sturmtruppen Divisions and overwhelmed the allied lines. The 50th Division artillery was overrun with many gunners staying with their guns and died and others being taken prisoner. 250th Brigade kept its guns longer in action than the other sister Brigade 251st, as they were outflanked by the Germans from the left flank. All guns were lost and the casualties Heavy. Captain Darling with revolver in hand was the commanding officer of 'D' Battery, was last seen charging the enemy, whilst Lieutenant Earle with a few remaining gunners directed fire of 'D' Battery that was still in action.

War Diary of the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 28th May 1918 0100 hrs Enemy put down barrage of extraordinary intensity on the whole area, mixed HE and Gas. This fire was very accurate and caused heavy casualties to the troops 'standing to'. Counter battery work was very effective putting many of our guns out of action. All communications with Brigade HQ, were cut by 03.00 Hrs.0334 hrs Enemy attacked all along the line. The first attacks seem to have been in a South Easterly direction parallel with Route 44.

Francis Richardson was killed in action in the Chemin-des-Dames on the 27th May 1918 and was buried where he fell.

He was twice mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Douglas Haig for gallant and distinguished services in the field. He was unmarried.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Francis Aymer Richardson is remembered at Corbridge on C52.01, C52.02, C52.04 also at Gateshead on G39.06.

He is also remembered at Seascale Preparatory School on the Memorial Tablet which was dedicated in June 1922.

A sandstone cross in the churchyard of St Cuthbert's Parish Church, Seascale commemorates the servicemen who lost their lives during the First World War and can be seen in the photograph above. Inside the church there are additional war memorials for the 'Fallen' connected to Seascale.

The first memorial inside the church is a tablet listing the names of 'Old Boys' of Seascale 'Prep' (Preparatory) School who died in WW1. The second memorial inside the church is a tablet listing the names of those who died in although the actual WW2 memorial is the altar rail.
Source:- The Second World War. With Thanks.

The Fallen of Seascale
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Richardson