Jack Mayhew Richardson

A Fitter Gunner with 354 Siege Battery, Jack died on 19th of October 1918 aged 20.

John was born at Oulton in 1898, a son of Fred John and Minnie Florence Richardson. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 8 June 1898, and his family lived at Oulton. In 1901 his family lived with his grandparents, Robert and Mary Kemp, at Boat Yard House, Oulton. By 1911 they were living at 1 York Villas, Commodore Road, Oulton Broad, and John was a newsagent’s errand boy. This was still their home in 1916, when John was an engineering apprentice. 

John attested for the Army at Lowestoft on 20 May 1916 and joined the Army Reserve. He was called up on 18 April 1918 and joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 255054. He was transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 10 May 1918, service number 220221, and appointed Fitter Gunner the same day. He joined the Central Siege School, Lydd, Kent, on 14 May. John was posted to France on 21 July 1918 and, on 22 August 1918, joined 24 Siege Battery. On 23 September 1918 he was posted to 354 Siege Battery. 

On 19 October 1918 354 Siege Battery moved to map reference 57.B.X.21.D.9.5. There is no detail in the unit war diary to show precisely what happened to John but he was killed in action. He was buried at map reference 57.B.X.21.D.5. In 1920 he was exhumed and reburied at Busigny Communal Cemetery. 

Note: some sources state that John was serving with 24 Siege Battery when he died, but his service papers survive and clearly show that he had been posted to 354 Siege Battery.