No.8219, Private, Richard WOOLLARD
Aged 23
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Richard Woollard was born in Stetchworth in 1892(Newmarket Q1-1892 3B:514) son of Isaac and Lucy WOOLLARD (née GINN).
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at High Street, Stetchworth with his father Isaac WOOLLARD [37] agricultural labourer, born Bottisham; his mother Lucy [41] born Woodditton; sister May [10] and brother Noah H [5] both born in Stetchworth. 1911 census...Aged 18, a soldier, he was at 20 Stone Cottages, Stetchworth with his widowed mother, brother Noah Henry (office boy), sister May, now Mrs STARLING, with her husband Arthur [27] born Cowlinge, and their daughter Olive May [under 1] born in Stetchworth and his aunt Rebecca ELLIOTT [46] a widow, born Kirtling. 2 of Lucy's five children had died. Brother Noah served in the Kings Royal Rifles, having his right leg amputated but surviving the war. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. His Army service records have not been found (unlike those of his brother Noah). The census has him as a soldier in 1911 but that is all. The regimental number 8182 for the 1st Suffolks was issued in January 1911 so his enlistment must have been very recent in 1911 census. As Richard died of his wounds we cannot, without his service records establish exactly when or where he was wounded, but the battalion were heavily engaged in the Verlorenhoek/ Frenzenberg Ridge area in the days before his death, and had their first encounter with gas attacks. The busiest day apparently was 24th when 50 were killed. |
photo;http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebruiker:Wernervc/fotoalbum
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