Richard Hutchinson was born in Denaby in April 1893 to Wheatley, who worked in the colliery, and Francis Hutchinson. He had two older sisters, Elizabeth and Ruth. In 1901 the family lived at 54 Doncaster Road, Denaby Main. At time of attestation, Richard was measured at just 5’3”, and had a chest measurement of 35 inches. He had tattoo marks on both arms.

 

On 25th October 1913, Richard married Harriet Shaw in Knottingley. The couple had one child, Richard born in 1914.

 

Richard attested to join the army in Pontefract on the 18th March 1915, just five months before his death. His service papers show that at the time of him joining the army, he was living in Knottingley, near Pontefract. He was working as a Glasshand and had been previously in the armed forces, however the description of whether Army or Navy is illegible.

 

He was originally posted to the 3rd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment two days later on the 20th March, but was transferred to the 2nd Battalion on the 6th July. His record card shows nothing else of significance until his death on 7th August, 1915. His medical record is clean, however his punishment record shows one incident on 14th June 1915, with the descripton “When on active service overstaying his pass from 9.30pm till 7.30pm 15June (22 hours)”. For this transgression, he received 5 days ‘CB’ (confined to barracks).

 

Richard was killed on 7th August 1915 at Hooge (an area just to the east of Ypres which saw fierce fighting just two days after Richard’s death, in which Noah Armstrong was killed) and was originally buried in a known grave near there. However, as he is commemorated on the Menin Gate, it is evident that his grave was subsequently lost or destroyed.

 

The battalion war diaries show no action of significance happening on the 7th August, as the battalion was in preparation for the attack which became known as the ‘Battle of Hooge’ on the 9th August. It is likely that Richard was killed by sniper fire or while on patrol, rather than in an organised action.

 

Richard received the 1914-15 Star, Victory and British Medals and is commemorated on the Menin Gate to the Missing in Ypres.