David Richardson
Northumberland Fusiliers Badge
The photo shown here was taken weeks before he was killed. Thanks to the Caisley Family Tree for the photograph.
Derek Johnstone has submitted the following:
David Richardson was born in 1898 at Bedlington, Northumberland to parents Francis and Thomas Caisley who were married in 1899 (registered at Morpeth). David worked in the coal mines as a pony driver before he enlisted while living in his grandfather’s house at 30, Shiney Row, Bedlington. In 1911, David was still living in his grandfather’s house but there is no record of his parents living there.
David did not marry and after the war, on 6th December 1919, his mother now Francis Humpish (remarried about 1907 to Robert Humpish) received his effects which amounted to £33 9s 6d. His mother was then living at Grace Street, Newcastle until she died in 1937.
David, whose original regimental number was 23/381, served in the Northumberland Fusiliers (Territorials) 1st / 5th Battalion. This regiment was formed at Walker, Newcastle on Tyne in 1914 as part of the Northumberland Division. The regiment was disbanded on 10th November 1918 in France.
The Northumberland Fusiliers lost over 16,000 men in the Great War; David Richardson was one of those brave soldiers. His memorial is at Pozieres Memorial, Somme France.
Acknowledgments also to Carole Fife
He is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.20 and in B15.26 page 43, and in the Battalion Roll of Honour
