Richard Vaughan was born in 1886 at Llansilin. He had six brothers and sisters – Margaret, Allen, Edwin, (him), Miriam, David and Samuel who would also be a casualty of the war. Their parents were Edwin and Laura Vaughan; his father was the blacksmith at Sycarth, the family lived at the forge. Edwin, the father, died in 1900 and the family moved into Oswestry to live at 10 Trinity Street and later at 4 Swan Crescent. Richard started an apprenticeship as a railway wagon builder but seems to have given up after 12 months and then worked as a general labourer. No record can be found for Richard in the 1911 Census. His military records show that he served in 1/4 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers Territorials. His brothers David and Samuel also worked at the railway works as machinists, both brothers would enlist. David would fail the medical, Samuel served with 1/4 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, he was killed in action on 28 December 1917.

His military record shows him enlisting at least twice. The first time was at Wrexham on 15 August 1914, enlisting as Private 11719, 8 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. However, on 15 October 1914 he was discharged under King’s Regulations Para. 392 – it seems he had deficient teeth, with few remaining and was ‘unable to eat his rations’. Undeterred he seems to have tried again, this time enlisting in East Lancashire Regiment on 19 December 1914; he was subsequently discharged again on 2 February 1915. His Medal records shows him in having been in both 2 Bn and 5 Bn KSLI. It would seem therefore that he had tried for a third time, enlisting in the KSLI – perhaps he had sorted his teeth out, getting dentures. He went over to France with the battalion on 19 May 1915.  However the time period for fixing teeth, enlisting in KSLI and going to France with the battalion in May is very tight – perhaps, his service in the Territorials had allowed him to ‘fast track’ his training.

Richard was KIA on 24 August 1916 at Delville Wood during the Somme Offensive. His body was lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and has no known grave. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry

KIA same day and action

Private 11034 Thomas Roberts, 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 24 August 1916,  Delville Wood Cemetery

Private 17061 Charles Clifford Judge, 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. KIA 24 August 1916, Thiepval Memorial (unknown)

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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