Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Richard Thomas Barnshaw was born in Manchester on the 7 April 1897 to parents Richard Thomas, a railway guard and Mary; they had three children.

Richard enlisted in Manchester just before his 19th birthday. At the end of April 1916, he was posted to the 20th Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Kinmel Park Camp, Bodelwyddan Castle Park, near Rhyl, North Wales.

It is possible that he transited through Peterborough East Station from the North West to his next posting with the 2/7 (Merioneth & Montgomery) Battalion, who were based in Bedford. His service records indicate that he was punished four times for being late on parade and after just a total of 141 days service he was medically discharged, apparently for being too small and not likely to become an efficient soldier. His medical report confirms he was only 5 feet 1 ½” and weighed less than 7 stones, (110 lbs).

Richard returned to Manchester, became a carter and married Edith Newsome in 1922 and by 1935 they were living in Failsworth with four daughters: Mary (1923), Nora (1924), Edith (1928) and Elsie (1931).  In 1939 Richard and Edith and their family were living at 14 Rocklyn Avenue, Manchester.  Richard was a general labourer.  Richard died in Manchester in 1949, aged 53.

Please get in touch if you can you tell us more about Richard and his family.