Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John (Jack) Deacon a stone quarry worker, born 1863 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Clara Deacon (nee Dorman, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1865 in Enderby, Leicestershire. Richard was born on the 7th June 1895 in Enderby, and was baptised on the 23rd November 1898 in the parish church, Enderby, his siblings were Christopher John, a stone quarry worker, born 1886, Robert Percy, a stone quarry worker, born 2nd quarter of 1887, Taylor Dorman, born 8th October 1888, Gilbert Augustus, born 4th November 1892, Ruth Evelyn, born 1897 and Edgar Jack, born 12th December 1900, all his siblings were born in Enderby, in March 1901 the family home was in John Street, Enderby. In April 1911 Richard was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home in John Street, Enderby, together with his mother and siblings, Taylor, a farm labourer, Gilbert, a stone quarry crushing machine operator, Ruth, an elastic trade winder, Edgar, a schoolboy, Cyril Archibald, a French polisher, born 18th October 1890 and Dorothy, a schoolgirl, born 21st October 1905, the latter two siblings were both born in Enderby, also residing in the family home was Richard’s nephew, Ernest Deacon, born 1911 in Leicester. On 30th May 1914, Richard married Rose Kennedy in the Blaby Registry Office, Leicestershire, Rose was born in 1893 in Leicester, on the 13th June 1915, their son Richard Percy was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Richard attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 25th September 1915 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He gave his full address as 222, Tuttle Hill, Nuneaton, his age as 21 years and 5 months and his trade or calling as miner. He confirmed that he was married. He gave his wife Rose Deacon of 222, Tuttle Hill, Nuneaton as his next of kin. His medical examination took place on the 25th September 1915 in Nuneaton and recorded that he was born in Enderby, Leicestershire, his declared age was 21 years and 3 months, and his trade or occupation was miner he was 5 foot 6¼ inches in height, weighed 126 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 37½ inches. His physical development was described as good and it was noted that he had a scar on the back of his right hand. He gave his religion as Church of England. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private, service number 14898 on the 25/9/15. Posted to the 12th Reserve Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 25/9/15. Appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) on the 15/1/16. Appointed Lance Corporal (paid) on the 22/2/16. Posted to the 11th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 21/4/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 22/4/16. Disembarked on the 23/4/16. Joined the 11th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, “B” Company, in the field on the 6/5/16. Wounded in action, gunshot wound to right shoulder on the 8/8/16. Admitted to No. 1 Stationary Hospital, Rouen on the 9/8/16. Transferred from No.1 Stationary Hospital on the 12/8/16. Transferred to the Southern General Hospital, King’s Heath, Birmingham on the 13/8/16.Posted to the Depot Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 13/8/16. Discharged from Hospital on the 12/9/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 21/9/16. Deprived of Lance stripe by the Commanding Officer, as punishment for absence from parade on the 10/11/16. Posted to the 29th Infantry Brigade Depot, British Expeditionary Force, France on the 11/11/16. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 11/11/16. Disembarked Rouen on the 12/11/16. Posted to the 2/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and allotted the service number 20412 on the 12/11/16. Posted to the 2/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 24/11/16. Joined the 2/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, in the field on the 26/11/16. Allotted new service number 268155 on the 1/3/17. Admitted to the 2/2nd South Midland Field Ambulance, in the field, suffering from P.U.O (pyrexia of unknown origin) on the 20/5/17. Transferred to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens on the 20/5/17. Rejoined the 2/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, in the field on the 11/6/17. Granted leave to England on the 20/10/17. Rejoined 2/7th Battalion in the field on the 5/12/17. Reported missing in action, in the field on the 22/3/18. Confirmed taken Prisoner of War on the 21/3/18, on the 18/9/18. Confirmed that he died of pneumonia as a Prisoner of War on the 26/6/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 25/9/15 – 20/4/16, 208 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 21/4/16 – 12/8/16, 114 days. Home Service, 13/8/16 – 10/11/16, 90 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 11/11/16 – 26/6/18, 1 year 228 days. Total service 2 years 275 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
An extract from a War Office letter dated the 6th March 1919 reads as follows:-
The Officer in charge of Infantry Records Office, Warwick is informed that a report has been received on an official German List of Dead, D22.124 of the death of No. 268155 Pte. R. Deacon, 2/7th Royal Warwick’s on 26.6.18 in Fortress Hospital at NEUBREISACK from pneumonia. Buried .
This report has been accepted as sufficient evidence for official purposes. The next of kin should therefore be notified accordingly and the usual non effective documents prepared.
(The place of burial and the place, cause, the date of death, should be communicated to the next of kin, when these particulars are furnished).
Richard’s widow and son were awarded a weekly pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence to commence on the 15th September 1919.
Richard’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.