Shop at 42 Beatrice Street.

John A (Arthur) Richards was born in 1887 at Llansilin. He was the sixth of what would be 10 children: Jane, Elizabeth, Jessie, Richard, Charlotte, Sinah, Una, Clara and Herbert. Their father, Richard, was a farmer. Their mother was Charlotte. They lived at two farms Ty Mawr, Llansilin and by 1901 at Upper Sweeney Farm at Morton/Llynclys. By 1911 they had moved into Oswestry living at 7 Gobowen Road (Ceiriog Villas). Father Richard was now working as a wood sawyer, John was working as a clerk at the Llynclys Lime Works, Llynclys. In 1911, John married Annie E Roberts, she was a widow and had 2 children – Gwendoline and Nesta. They lived at 42 Beatrice Street and ran a tobacconist’s shop.

John enlisted at Welshpool and joining the 1/1 Bn Montgomeryshire Yeomanry as Private  2907 – then a cavalry unit which in November 1917 was dismounted and became infantry. They sailed for Egypt in March 1916. In March 1917 the battalion was disbanded with troops transferring to Royal Welsh Fusiliers.  Regimental numbers were re-designated and John became Private 355357 in 25 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. In Egypt John contracted Malaria and spent time in hospital. John was killed in action 10 March 1918 during the Battle of Tell’Asur (8-12 March 1918) and is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, he is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

See also – believed to have enlisted at same time  as John Private 35360 Richard T Coleman, 25 Bn RWF (formerly Private 2914 Mont. Yeo.).

Acknowledgements. Photos by permission of Linda Yates  and Mary Abel

References and Sources

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