Personal Details

Born: 3 April 1882 and baptised 18 June the same year at St Barnabas Church, Hengoed, Gobowen, Shropshire.

Family: Fourth child of Samuel and Jane Roberts. Richard did not appear to have married, listed as single on all found documents.

Residence: The year before Richard’s birth the census recorded the family residing at Hengoed Road, Selattyn, Oswestry, Shropshire. By 1891 the family were living at Chirk Road, Whittington, Oswestry. Ten years later Richard was boarding in Whittington Road, Oswestry but by 1911 was living back with his father, now a widower, and his sister Elizabeth at Upper Hengoed, Whittington, Oswestry. In the 1919 absent voters list his address is given as 2 Belton Cottages, Wrexham Road, Whitchurch, the same as on his army documents. Twenty years later, in 1939, he was boarding at 38 Rhosddu Road, Wrexham, Denbighshire.

Employment: In 1901 Richard was employed as a railway shunter. Ten years later his occupation was that of a colliery banksman working above ground. In 1939 he listed his occupation as unemployed coal miner.

Died: Possible deaths recorded in Wrexham are in 1955, aged 73 or 1963, aged 81.

Military Details

Regiment: Military Foot Police (previously King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and then 48th Training Reserve)

Rank: Lance corporal

Service Number: P7140 (not P/7140 as in 1919 Absent voters list) (previously 15496 and then 3/226)

Date of Enlistment: 10 November 1914 (transferred September 1916 to Training Reserve then 24 February 1917 to Military Police)

Date of Discharge: 9 May 1919

Reason for Discharge: Demobilisation

Other Information: Whilst in Training Reserve he was stationed at Prees Heath Camp, Whitchurch.