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Robert Johnstone Richardson (1899-1971)


Barnard Castle resident served as an able seaman in the Royal Navy


Robert Johnstone Richardson was born in Salt River, Cape Town, South Africa on 12 January 1899. His mother was Annie M Richardson (1871-1925), an ironmonger’s daughter from Barnard Castle. She married around 1893 in Teesdale. Robert’s older sister, Mary Isabelle Richardson, was born in Stockton-on-Tees in 1897 his younger sister, Elsie May Richardson, was born in the Transvaal, South Africa in 1902. At the time of the 1911 census Robert, his mother and sisters lived at 15 Bond Street, Northam, Southampton, Hampshire.

Robert joined the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd class on 25 April 1915 at the age of 16. On his eighteenth birthday, in 1917, he elected to serve as a man for 12 years. He was given the service number J40287 and rose to the rating of able seaman on 1 November 1917. Robert was on the books of HMS Vanguard when she suffered a catastrophic explosion at Scapa Flow on 9 July 1917 leading to the loss of 843 men. Fortunately for Robert, he was one of a small number of her crew who were ashore at the time. Robert was recorded as being away on active service on the October 1918 absent voter’s list but usually resident at 15 Bond Street, Barnard Castle when at home. He married Beatrice Richardson nee Blisset (1896-1977) in Newcastle in 1919. He was invalided out of the Royal Navy with astigmatism on 18 August 1920.

After the war Robert and his wife had at least one daughter named Patricia, born in 1937. The family lived in Croydon and Robert worked as a postman. On 13 October 1943, during the second world war, he re-entered the Royal Navy. At some time after the second world war he moved to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada where he died on 12 March 1971. His wife Beatrice died in Victoria in 1977.

Robert Johnstone Richardson was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service during the First World War.

Civil Parish: Barnard Castle

Birth date: 12-Jan-1899

Death date: 12-Mar-1971

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 15 Bond Street, Northam, Southampton, Hampshire (1911 census)
7 King Street, Barnard Castle (1918 absent voter’s list)

Employment: Gardener (1915 service record)

Family: Parents: AnnieM Richardson nee Bayles (1871-1925)
Siblings: Mary Isabelle Richardson (1897), Elsie May Richardson (1902)
Spouse: Betrice Richardson nee Blisset (1896-1977)
Children: Patricia Richardson (1937-2012)

Military service:

J40287
Royal Navy
Boy 2nd class, 25 April 1915
Boy 1st class, 27 August 1915
Ordinary seaman, 12 September 1916
Able seaman, 1 November 1917
HMS Vanguard
RFA Angora

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Electoral Register:

Register No: 220
Forename: Robert Johnstone
Surname: Richardson
Parliamentary Division: Barnard Castle
Polling District: A - Barnard Castle
Parish: Barnard Castle
Date: October-1918
Reference: October-1918

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham County Record Office | David D, Stanley

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