On this day in 1918, James Richards (1872-1918) died from pneumonia, two days after the end of the Great War.
James was 42 and a carpenter and wheelwright when he enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in September 1915.
A private, he worked as a ‘wheeler’, or wheelwright, in the RAOC – serving in France for eight months – until he was discharged because of acute rheumatism in May 1917.
He was ‘seized with influenza’ on November 6, 1918, and died from pneumonia just a week later – two days after the Armistice – aged 47.
Three of his sons also served in the war.
James was buried with full military honours at St John the Baptist and St Helen churchyard, Wroughton, Wiltshire.
Paul Roberts
NOTES
James, born on October 11, 1872 in Tiverton, was the son of James Richards (1848-1913) and Ann Chon (1849-1901). He married Alice Nash (or Naish) on April 2, 1893 in Coallneyford, Bath. James resided at 81, Swindon Road, Wroughton, Wiltshire when he died.
James was the son of James Richards Snr (1850- 1913) and Templeton-born Ann Chown (1849-1901). Ann was the daughter of Elizabeth Squire (1810-1899) and William Chown (1805-1879). Elizabeth was the sister of Charlotte Squire (1820-1901), the mother of Sarah Tancock (1851-1900), who married Daniel Arscott (1957-1922) on October 17, 1877 at Tristram Chapel, Puddington. Daniel was my great-grandfather.