9125, Private, Richard MOODY
Aged 21
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Born in Newmarket in Q4-1893, [Newmarket 3b:515] to Robert Tyrell and Alice Ann MOODY (née FISHER), of Fitzroy Street, Newmarket. A
Newmarket brewing family, although his father was a racecourse detective in 1901.
1901 census...Richard [7] was at Fitzroy Street, Newmarket with his father Robert [40], a police racecourse detective, born Newmarket; his mother Alice [37] born Exning; his brothers Robert [11] and Cecil [9] and sisters Gwendoline [10]; Muriel [6] and Margery [3]. All the children were born in Newmarket. 1911 census...Richard [17] an auctioneers clerk, was living with his parents at Ridgeley House, Fitzroy Street, Newmarket, with sisters Gwendoline , Muriel and Margery. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket.
1st October 1915 the 7th Suffolks had just finished linking two lengths of trench in front of the Chalk Pit ( by the Lens/La Bassee road) during the night, sustaining a few casualties in the process
At 8 am the German artillery opened up a very heavy barrage which carried on all day, at times completely burying men. Battalion HQ, in the Chalk Pit, was the centre of
the heaviest shelling. It was reported that enemy entrenching was so busy there was an almost complete absence of rifle fire. 7 men of the 7th Suffolk were killed, none has an identified grave. The Cambridge Independent Press reported on 15th October 1915 :- Newmarket Man Reported Killed- News has been received in Newmarket, through the letters of comrades, of the death of Pte Richard Moody, a single young man, who joined the Suffolks at the outbreak of the war. Mr. Richard Moody was the son of Mr. Robert Moody, jun., a well known racing official of Ridgeley House, Fitzroy Street, Newmarket, and grandson of Mr. Robert Moody, formerly a well known racing official and now of the new Welsh Harp, Hendon. Mr. Richard Moody played for Newmarket Football Club, and rendered very good service to the "A" team. His father, Mr.Robert Moody jun., served in the King's Own Rifles, and went through the Sudan campaign; so that it was very natural for his son to volunteer for the Army, of which his father was always very proud. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moody jun., have had no official intimation of the death of their son, and they have written to the War Office on the subject. |
photo:courtesy, his nephew Richard Moody in Canada photo: Rodney Gibson 
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