Richard was born in Langport near Somerton, Somerset during September 1894 to parents Alloway and Bessie, also born in Somerton, .
At the time of the 1901 Census, Richard and his mother were living at St.Clares Road, Somerton but Richard’s father, Alloway was boarding at 125 West Street, Somerton, probably living away from home because of his job as a self employed farrier (later to become a horse breaker working around the country). It would seem that working with animals was a family profession as Alloway’s father, also a Richard, is shown in the 1871 Census as a veterinary surgeon living with his eight children in North Curry, Somerset. The 1881 Census shows Alloway’s brother’s William and Robert both practicing as veteriny(sic) surgeons in Somerton. For good measure another brother was a butcher.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Richard was 16 years old and his family had moved to 41 Nolton Street, Bridgend, Glamorgan. He had a 4 year old sister, Hilda. Another sibling had died. Richard was by then working as an errand boy for a stationer.
Richard joined the 18th (Service) Battalion (Arts and Crafts) of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Service number C/9844 in early 1916. He did not serve in the 8th Battalion as shown on the CWGC records. (Refer to Battalion details on the Soldiers Will.) The Battalion was formed at Gidea Park on the 4th June 1915 by Sir Herbert Smith who was a rich Banker and keen supporter of the Arts and Crafts Movement, hence the Battalion’s name. This was also one of Kitchener’s New Army Battalions.
After training the Battalion landed at Le Havre on the 3rd of May 1916 and was attached to the 122nd Brigade, 41st Division.
Until September 1916 the Battalion continued training in Belgium before being transferred to the Somme where they took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette which started on the 12th September 1916 and the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which started on the 1st October 1916, both being part of the Battle of the Somme, before being transferred back to Ypres in October of that year.
On the 7th June 1917 the 18th Battalion took part in the Battle of Messines as a prelude to the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The 3rd Battle of Ypres is better known as Passendaele. However there were a number of phases to this battle and the 18th Battallion, as well as Messines, were involved in the Battles of Pilckem Ridge and the Menin Road.
The Battalion had been out of the line between the 1st and 16th September but took up positions on the front line on the 17th in the area known to the British as Shrewsbury Forest and Sanctuary Wood. Although between battles, it is probable that Richard received wounds that would be fatal at this time. He died on the 18th September aged 23 years.
Richard left a Soldiers Will dated the 16th April 1916 stating that ”In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my Mother Mrs. Bessie Burnell of 143 Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, Kent.”
Richard has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, (Passendaele), Belgium , Panel Ref.115-119.
Richard’s father, Alloway Burnell had served in the West Somerset Yeomanry and was called up near the start of the war, at the age of 43. He enlisted in Cardiff in September 1914 as a driver in the Army Service Corps but was discharged in November 1914 as medically unfit.
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