Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

William Thomas Richmond was an only son, his parents both hailed from Essex. 

His father mariner Samuel Arthur Richmond was born at Burnham on Crouch in 1841 and was married, May 14th 1864, at Christ Church, Rotherhithe, South London, to Emma Elizabeth Constable, native of Leith on Sea, where she was born, November 15th 1841.

Samuel and Emma Elizabeth migrated to the north-east of England where William Thomas Jnr was born, March 29th 1864, their daughter Emma in 1875. In 1881 Samuel Richmond was a seaman, William Thomas (17) a gas fitter’s apprentice, Emma a scholar. William Thomas Jnr’s mother Emma Elizabeth Richmond nee Constable died at Sunderland, November 15th 1891.

William Thomas Richmond was married at Sunderland in 1893 to Isabella Ainsley Hall, a native of Sunderland, historically in County Durham, where she was born October 21st 1868. Their son Arthur was born, April 17th 1894. William Thomas Jnr was born at Hendon, Sunderland in 1896, their daughter Isabella Hall, August 18th 1898. In 1901 they were living at 23, Thompson Street, Sunderland. William Thomas Snr supported his family working as a shipyard labourer, ten years later he was a mariner in the Merchant Service and also the proud father of a further 2 children, Harold born November 1st 1902 and Norman in 1906.

By 1911 William Thomas had transferred his family into 7 rooms at 21, Athol Road, Sunderland. Arthur Richmond (16) was employed as a ship painter, William Thomas (15) was working as a marine engineer’s fitter, Isabella, Harold and Norman were scholars. Hilda Richmond was born in 1913.

As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared within hours of Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded Belgium violating Belgian neutrality. After a request to Britain by the Belgians for help, London gave Berlin an ultimatum which expired August 4th 1914 at 11 p.m. London time. When this was ignored, King George V then declared war on Germany that same evening.

William Thomas Richmond Jnr enlisted with the 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Prior to his departure to France in 1915 the Richmond family received tragic news of his father Able Seaman Z/4035 William Thomas Richmond (51).

Able Seaman William Thomas Richmond was lost at sea, presumed drowned, when his ship, “Universal” registered at Sunderland and crewed by many Sunderland men, disappeared, September 3rd 1915, in the Bay of Biscay, supposedly sunk by a mine.

William Thomas’ son Private William Thomas Richmond was killed in action in 1916. His father Samuel Arthur Richmond died, August 28th 1918, at Sunderland, historically in County Durham until 1974.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

There is no CWGC entry.

William Thomas Richmond is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.