Richard was born in Worthen Shropshire in 1870. He was a farm labourer, marrying Mary Jane in 1890. They had eight children, Martha, Richard b1896 (also served in WW1), Samuel b1897 (also served in WW1), Walter, Frederick, Louisa, Charles and Mary. Although the family is recorded as living in Wellington, Shropshire on the 1911 census, they must have moved to Keckwick soon afterwards as Richard gave his address as Keckwick on his enlistment papers.
Richard enlisted into the Agricultural Labour Corps, regimental numbers 441699 and 20236. He served his time in the UK, at Knockaloe and Douglas in the Isle of Man and Frongoch in Wales. He was described as being ‘of good character’.
He died in 1936, aged 67 years.