Colin Boyd has provided the following:
Richard was born in Quebec, Co. Durham in 1895, one of 13 children born to John and Mary Ann Comerford.
When he enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry in December 1915 Richard was working as a labourer living with his father at Monument Cottage, Birtley, Co. Durham. He was 5 feet 2½ inches tall with a 32½ inch chest; he weighed 115 lbs and was a Roman Catholic.
Richard landed in France on 11th July 1916 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. He was hospitalised with Scabies from 2nd March to 14th March 1917 and again with the same complaint from 22nd March to 7th April 1917.
Richard was killed in action on 3rd June 1917. His personal effects were forwarded to his mother, Mary Ann at 17, Harris Bank, Birtley and consisted of a disc, letters, photos, cards, religious book, leather letter case, pair of scissors, rosary and pendants, coin, brooch and a copy of "First Aid for the injured".
Note: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his father's address as 18E, Elizabethville, Birtley which was the enclosed community built for the Belgian refugees working in the ordnance factory but after the Armistice was occupied by English families.
Also in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance he is shown as K. Comerford but Richard is the only Comerford casualty to the D.L.I. I can find, but the date of death is correct.
Richard Comerford is remembered in Birtley on B127.01 and B127.09 and as K. Comerford in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 140
