WW1 Casualty: Private 31908 Joseph Colvin Richman - Private 31908 Joseph Colvin Richman
| Unit/Regiment |
2nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
14/06/1917 |
Age at Death |
27 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Menin Gate
Panel 37 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of Joseph B. and Isabelle Richman, of 34, St. Mary's Rd., South Norwood, London; husband of Jessie Richman, of Poplar Bank, Prescot, Lancs. |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
Joseph was aged 10 and lived at 21 Blythe Vale, Lewisham, with his parents Joseph and Isabella. Joseph has a younger brother Benjamin, aged 5 and sisters Jane (12) and Hilda (9). His father is shown to be a civil engineer.
1911 Census -
Joseph, aged 21, lived as a Boarder at 19, Derby Street, Prescot, the home of James Berry. Joseph worked as a Draughtsman at the Cable Works. |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth registered Q1/1890, Lambeth, 1d, 508
Joseph married Jessie Dennett, son of local builder and Councillor Thomas Dennett, in Prescot in the Spring of 1916 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
London |
| Enlisted |
St Helens, Lancs |
| Resided |
Prescot, Lancs |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P240 |
Service Details
Liverpool Echo, 10th April 1916
The very next day, 11th April 1916, Joseph attested as Private 5188 in the 1/5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment at St Helens. He was a 26 year old Draughtsman and lived at Poplar Bank, Prescot.
He had married Jessie Brown Dennett in Prescot on 27th January that year.
On 3rd July 1916 while based at Oswestry, Joseph was found to have a dirty rifle while on parade and was sentenced to three days 'Confined to Barracks'. He then sailed for France with his battalion on 26th November 1916, arriving at Le Havre the following day. He was initially posted to the Base Depot at Rouen but then on 10th December 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, at which time he was renumbered.
Joseph was wounded in the left foot in March 1917 and spent some time at a Casualty Clearing Station, rejoining his unit on 16th March. On 1st April, he was sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No 1 for insolence to a NCO.
The early part of 1917 was a relatively quiet time for the 2nd Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment, leading up to the Battle of Messines which started on 7th June. The battalion was held in reserve until 12th, when they took over the lines previously held by the Australians. On 13th, they received orders that they were to advance on the 14th, with the aim of capturing Ferme de la Croix, east of Messines village and to clear the left back of the River Douve.
The companies had to reach the starting line over open land in full view of the German machine guns, which were mainly located in scattered shell holes and which inflicted some casualties. The attack commenced at 7.30 p.m. and the swiftness of the attack caught many of the enemy napping. Several enemy machine guns nests had, however, been left intact and these inflicted the majority of the battalion's casualties. One of these was Private Richman. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing
The Parish Magazine of 28th June 1917 reported 'The following are deaths in action, all in France or Belgium' and included 'Pte. J. Colvin Richman, 27, of Derby Street, 2nd South Lancs. Killed 19th June 1917, married'
On 31st October, the War Office wrote to the Army Records Office asking that all Joseph's effects be returned to Jessie at Poplar Bank, Prescot.
The Register of Soldiers Effects (below) recorded Jessie as Joseph's net of kin and sole legatee
Joseph's Plaque and Memorial Scroll were issued to Jessie in March 1920. He was also was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His widow, Jessie, acknowledged receipt of the medals on 14th March 1922.
Jessie never remarried and passed away in Prescot in 1971 at the age of 82. She was recorded living alone at 84 Warrington Road, Prescot in the 1939 National Register (below)
Private Richman's Medal Index Card. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Private Richman's inscription on the Menin Gate
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