UDALE, RICHARD

This photograph was found on his body and sent to his mother[2c].

It is reproduced with kind permission from the Uttoxeter Advertiser

 

 

Source

CWGC

SDGW

Uttoxeter Advertiser

Other

Parents

Mrs. Sarah Ann Hague

Yes

 

 

 

Mrs. Stephen Udale

 

 

2a

 

Position in the family

Had at least one brother and some sisters

 

 

1e

 

Where born

Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

 

Yes

 

3

When born

 

 

 

 

 

Address

Parents: 16 Blacksmith Yard, Balance Street, Uttoxeter

Yes

 

2b

3

Mother: Blacksmith’s Yard, Uttoxeter

 

 

1e

 

Uttoxeter

 

Yes

 

 

Spouse

 

 

 

 

 

Children

 

 

 

 

 

Employment Before Joining up

 

 

 

 

 

Where enlisted

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordhire

 

 

 

3

Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire

 

Yes

 

 

Regiment

North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’s)

Yes

Yes

2a, 2b

1, 3

Formerly 4208, ‘C’ Company, North Staffordshire

 

 

 

1

Unit

1st/6th Bn. (4208)

Yes

Yes

 

 

1/6th (T.F.) Bn.

 

 

 

3

Rank

Private

Yes

Yes

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f

1, 3

Service Number

241281

Yes

Yes

 

1, 3

Date of Death

1 July 1916

Yes

Yes

2b, 2d, 2e, 2f

1, 3

Age at time of death

20

 

 

2d, 2e

 

18

Yes

 

 

 

Where Killed or died

Gommecourt

 

 

2e

 

Gommecourt, Somme

 

 

 

3

Gommecourt Wood

 

 

2d

 

France/Flanders

 

Yes

 

 

How he died

Killed in Action

 

Yes

2e

 

Missing

 

 

2a, 2b

1

Location of Grave or Memorial

Thiepval Memorial for the Missing

Pier and Face 14 B and 14 C.

Yes

 

 

4

 

Uttoxeter Town War Memorial (Market Place)

 

 

 

3, 4

Awards

 

 

 

 

 

We have not established when he joined-up, but we  do know that on the 18th of August 1915 the Uttoxeter Advertiser reported that he was serving with the 6th battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment[3].

At the end of July 1916 his parents were told that he had been missing since the 1st of July. He had only been in France for about four months[2a].

Major Odling an officer in the 6th North Staffordshire Regiment wrote a letter to Richard’s mother and the Uttoxeter Advertiser published an extract as follows[2b]:

 “I much regret that I can offer very little hope that your son is either a prisoner of war or wounded in hospital, but should any news of him be received I will at once let you know. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your great loss.”

He died at Gommecourt on the 1st day of the Somme battle, but his body was not found until a year later. At that point, the photograph reproduced above was recovered from his body and sent to his mother. It was then published by the Uttoxeter Advertiser[2b].

In common with so many of the Uttoxeter men who died at Gommecourt on that day, he has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

The Thiepval Memorial

 

Richard’s family mourned him for years:

This touching notice was posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in July 1917 to mark the first anniversary of his death. His family was troubled by the thought of how he died.

UDALE. – In Affectionate Remembrance of Pte. R. Udale, who fell at Gommecourt Wood on July 1, 1916, aged 20.

We often sit and think of him,

And think of how he died,

To think he could not say good-bye

Before he closed his eyes.

 

This was posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in July 1918. The words are very poignant. Note that this notice was posted by Richard’s Mother, Father, Brother, Sisters, Granny, Aunts and Uncles. A lot of people missed him..

UDALE. – In Loving Memory of my dear son, Pte. R. Udale, killed in action at Gommecourt, July 1, 1916, aged 20.

There’s a lonely grave in France where a young hero sleeps;

There’s a cottage home in England where a mother sits and weeps.

A son more precious than pure gold,

We little thought his time so short when he on furlough came;

Off to the front he bravely went, never to return again

- From Mother, Father, Brother, Sisters, Granny, Aunts and Uncles.

 

This was posted in July 1919 to mark the third anniversary of his death

UDALE. – In Loving Memory of our dear Son, Pte. Richard Udale, who was killed in action on July 1, 1916.

A loving son and brother kind,

We always have him in our mind;

His loving ways and smiling face,

No one can ever fill his place.

This day brings back to memory

A loved one called to rest;

Only those who think of him

Are those who loved him best

- Fondly remembered by his Mother and Father, Brother and Sisters, Aunts and Grannie.