Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
The date of Richard Edmondson’s birth was either in the 2nd quarter of 1882, or on 27th February 1882. He was born in either Dorking or Epsom to carpenter and joiner James Albert and Annie (nee Dillon).
Richard was baptised on 6th August 1884 at St Martin’s church in Dorking. The family lived at Church Gardens in Dorking.
Richard’s father James was born in the 2nd quarter of 1859 in Newington, London to John and Emma. James was baptised on 9th November 1859 in Dorking. Richard’s mother Annie was born about 1862 in Ireland. James and Annie married in the 4th quarter of 1881 in Wandsworth, London.
Richard had 9 known siblings: Albert John born in 1884; Edmund born in 1885; James Albert born in 1887; Margaret Alice born in 1889; Henry born in 1891; May born in 1893; William Francis born about 1895; Ethel Annie born in 1897 and Harold John born in 1902, all in Dorking.
On 6th May 1889 Richard was admitted to the Dorking British School. At this time the family lived at 2 Church Gardens in Dorking. Richard is stated as previously attending Dorking Infant School.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 16 Church Gardens in Dorking James was working as a carpenter and joiner and Annie was looking after their children Richard, Edmund, James Albert and Margaret Alice.
On 1st February 1892 Richard was admitted into St Martin’s Church of England School for boys in Dorking. The family still lived at Church Gardens. Richard left the school on 27th March 1896.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 16 Church Gardens in Dorking. James was working as a carpenter and Annie was looking after their children Edmund, James Albert, Margaret Alice, May, William Francis and Ethel Annie.
Richard enlisted on 10th September 1902 in Woolwich, Kent to the 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own). He became a rifleman with a regimental number 9231. At the time of Richard’s enlistment he lived at Bournemouth in Hampshire (now Dorset) and was working as a bricklayer’s labourer. Richard enlisted for 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve.
Richard was over 5ft tall and weighed 118lbs. He had a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He had also a scar on chin and left elbow.
Richard received several punishments during his early days in the Army. In 1903 he was drunk in Hampshire Terrace at about 10.15pm; in 1904, Richard was absent from Batteries Parade at 5pm and broke out of barracks whilst a prisoner at large, remaining absent until 11pm; in 1908 he created a disturbance in a tent at about 10.45pm and used threatening language to a NC Officer.
Richard served from 10th September 1902 to 11th April 1904 at home, from 12th April 1904 to 15th November 1905 in Malta, from 16th November 1905 to 22nd August 1914 in India.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Richard was in India serving as a Rifleman of the 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigade.
Richard returned home from India on 23rd August 1914 and stayed there until 4th November 1914. On 5th of November 1914 he became part of the British Expeditionary Force until his death on 26th January 1915. Richard disembarked in France on the 7th of November 1914.
Richard Edmondson died on 26th January 1915. The 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigades’ war diary reads, that on this date the enemy continued sniping all day.
He is buried at Fauquissart Military Cemetery in Laventie, France. His grave reference is E5.
Richard Edmondson received a 2nd class Certificate of Education, the Mounted Infantry Certificate, the Coronation Durbar Medal (received on the 12 of December 1911), the British War and Victory Medals and the 1914 Star.
Richard was in the Army for 12 years and 139 days.
Surrey and the War
Death of Private Richard Edmondson
Dorking has to mourn the loss of yet another of her gallant sons. We regret to state that Private Richard Edmondson, of the 2nd Rifle Brigade, and son of Mr James Edmondson, 16 Church Gardens, Dorking was killed in action on January 22nd. Deceased, who was an extremely bright and popular young man came over from India with the second Indian contingent a short while ago. He had previously been in India for over a dozen years. Before going to the front he was granted a few days’ leave, and visited his parents in Dorking. In his early days, deceased was a member of St. Martin’s Church Choir.
Richard Edmondson Death Notice Dorking Advertiser 1915 © findmypast.co.uk
Richard’s father James received £18, 6s and 2d in 1915 and £5 in 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
James also received his son’s effects: three pipes and a packet of letters in 1915. Everything was sent to 79 Hartfield Crescent in Wimbledon, London.
In 1918 Richard’s father James and his brothers Edmund, James and William lived at 136 Commercial Road in Bournemouth. His mother, Annie still lived with her youngest son Harold at 16 Church Gardens in Dorking.
James Edmondson died at the age of 90 in 1950. He had been living at 72 Fairfield Drive, Dorking, He was buried on 6th May 1950 at St Martin’s church in Dorking.
| Born | Epsom, Surrey | |
| Lived | Bournemouth, Dorset | |
| Son of | Mr James and Annie Edmondson, 16 Church Gardens, Dorking | |
| School | Dorking British School (Powell Corderoy School) | |
| Enlisted | Woolwich, Kent | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade | |
| Number | 9231 | |
| Date Overseas | 7th November 1914 | |
| Date of Death | 22nd January 1915 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 22 | |
| Cemetery | Fauquissart Military Cemetery, Laventie, Pas de Calais |
