Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mrs Agnes Ann Richardson. The War Diary entry for the 22nd March 1918 records. FREMICOURT. At 9.30am Transport moved back to about H.13.c. Sheet 57c. Two platoons of “C” Company withdrawn in the morning to the Army Line about J.8. and 9 Sheet 57c. and the remaining two in the afternoon. At 6.00pm All HQ details moved up and dug in and occupied a line just behind the Army Line about J.14.b. At 4.00pm Transport moved to PIONEER CAMP, LOGEAST WOOD G.1.b Sheet 57c. 1 man of the transport was killed by shell fire. What remained of the Companies were withdrawn to the new line J.14.b. Total casualties of the operations:- 2nd Lt. A. ASHTON, 2nd Lt. C. MILLWARD and 2nd Lt. W. BAXTER were killed in action. Captain R. BENTLEY, Lt. H. H. GRUNDTVIG M.C., Lt. F. J. MEGGITT, 2nd Lt. R. J. NAYLOR, 2nd Lt. O. H. SEWELL, 2nd Lt. E. BEDSON, 2nd Lt. C. O. R. STEVISON were wounded. Captain J. C. SPENCER, Lt. A. L. HICKS, 2nd Lt. N. H. STEVENSON, 2nd Lt. A. SUMMERS are missing. 30 other ranks were killed, 106 wounded and 81 missing.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 30th, 1919

SHAW LANE SOLDIERS' DEATH

News has been received by Mrs A. A. Richardson, residing at Shaw Lane, the widowed mother of Private Samuel William Richardson, 11th Leicester Regiment, from the Infantry Recording Officer, that her son, who has been posted as missing since the 22nd March, 1918, is now presumed to have been killed on that date. Before joining the army he was employed as assistant sawer at Ellistown Colliery.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 30th, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT COPT OAK CHURCH

WINDOW DECORATED BY THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH

A large congregation was present at Copt Oak Church on Sunday morning to witness the dedication by the Bishop of Peterborough of a beautiful stained-glass window which has been placed in the church in memory of local men who gave their lives in the great war.

The window has three lights, the centre light being occupied by a warrior kneeling at the foot of Christ, with the inscription, “Faithful unto death, 1914 – 1918.” The following are the fallen who are commemorated:

E. Bowley, J. W. Brooks, J. H. Gibbins, H. Heggs, H. A. V. Hull, H. Hall, R. Irons, T. J. Kelham, A. H. Mason, G. H. Partner, P. B. Pearce, S. W. Richardson, H. Read, P. Tyers, S. A. Whyles and W. Wibberley.

Immediately preceding the service, a muffled peal was rung on the bells. The Rev. H. C. Gannell (vicar) took the first part of the service, which was fully choral, and the Rev. J. Martin, of Charley Hall, read the lessons. The special music rendered by the choir included the Te Deum (Hopkins) and the anthem, “Rejoice in the Lord” (Elvey). Mrs Gannell officiated at the organ, and at the close played the Dead March in “Saul.”

The Bishop, in his address from St. John, xx, 29, emphasised the power of the Resurrection, dealing with the introduction of Christianity into Britain, the progress made in Uganda, India and China. Instead of thinking of God as a kind of arch-magistrate seated on a distant star, we must think of one who is full of sympathy even for those whom many consider as beyond the pale. His Lordship continued, “We remember those gallant men who gave their lives in the war. They have cleared the way for a new Britain, a better Europe and a new world. Our task is to carry on, not to beat the Germans, but to form a truer fellowship, a lasting peace and goodwill. We must never falter until the great League of Nations is rooted and grounded in brotherly love, and a new comradeship is established, not every one grabbing for self, but each man loving his neighbour as himself.”

The congregation included many of the relatives of the deceased men. The collections at the services, including the Choral Communion Service at 8 am, at which the Bishop of Peterborough was the celebrant, were for the Window Fund. The service at 6.30 pm was taken by the Rev. T. W. Walters, Whitwick, Rural Dean.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 29/10/2018.