7th Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

[jainvince]

We know quite a lot about this soldier including details of correspondence from the front. Our information is below. What is not known is where he was located. Can any member advise me any further details, please?

Bernard

On Tuesday 16th November 1915 the 25 year old Littleborough born son of Mr John & Mrs Sarah Ann Richards licensee of the Bay Mare, Church Street, 25 year old Lance Corporal 14979 Arthur Richards, 7 Bn, Kings Own Royal Lancaster’s was killed in the front line trenches in France. Lance Corporal Richards was the N.C.O. in charge of a machine gun and whilst cleaning the gun he was apparently spotted by a German sniper due to a break in the parapets and was killed instantaneously by a rifle bullet which went straight through his head. Lieutenant Taylor of the Machine Gun Corp of the 56th Infantry Brigade wrote to Lance Corporal Richards father and said that "His sons death was a great loss to the company and that he was certain of further promotion" Lieutenant Taylor also wrote "That when news of his death was sent down, one of the men of his gun team said one of the nicest chaps I ever knew"

Mr Richards also received a letter from Sergeant Major Douglas Coupe of the 56th Infantry Brigade who wrote on the 17 November 1915 and stated that "Lance Corporal Richards comrades felt his loss very acutely. His good qualities endeared him to those who worked with him." "Personally" said Sgt/M Coupe "I soon found out that to know him was to admire him for his willingness at all times under all conditions to do with all his energy the tasks allotted to him. He will be buried with full military honours by the brigade chaplain in a famous war cemetery, whose situation entirely belies that such a terrible war is waging. The consolation you have is that he lies in consecrated ground and his grave will receive every attention. Our hearts go out to you in sympathy" Lance Corporal Richards was buried on the 18 November 1915 in a cemetery not far behind the front line trenches, in Grave Number II. E. 1 Brown’s Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France. Lance Corporal Richards enlisted in Manchester in October 1914 and he embarked for France on the 16 July 1915. Prior to enlisting he was associated with a tailoring business in Victoria Street, he was a bachelor and was connected with the Littleborough Parish Church, he was a member of the committee of the Littleborough Conservative Club, his name on their War Memorial and also on the Cenotaph in Littleborough.

On the 5 December a special memorial service was held in his memory at Littleborough Parish Church.

[sotonmate]

BP

As it seems to have been an instant death it is likely that he was buried close by,so he must have been in the frontline at Festubert. Whilst Brown's Road Cemetery has a series of burials brought in from outlying and smaller cemeteries after the Armistice it is also likely that he was solely buried in Brown's Road,as I would imagine that any reburials would have occupied one of the higher numbered blocks (he is in Block II).

You are going to have to get some confirmation of the unit's position on 16.11.1915 from it's War Diary,which is at Kew under WO95/2078.

7 KOLR was part of 56 Brigade of 19 Division,which was fighting at LOOS until 8 October 1915,so would seem to have remained in the general sector.

Sotonmate