Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Richardson, an agricultural labourer, born 1843 in Whetstone, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Richardson (nee Bennett, married on the 2nd July 1865 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Leicestershire) born 1847 in Whetstone. Joseph Allen was born on the 8th January 1888 in Whetstone, and was baptised on the 29th February 1888 in Whetstone Parish Church, his siblings were, Susan, a Griswold frame knitter, born 1871, George William, a shoe maker, born 1874 and baptised on the 2nd August 1874 in Whetstone Parish Church, John Henry, a shoe maker, born 1880, Walter Sidney, a schoolboy, born 1883 and baptised on the 2nd September 1883 in Whetstone Parish Church and Arthur Benjamin, a schoolboy, born 28th September 1885 and baptised on the 22nd November 1885 in Whetstone Parish Church, all his siblings were born in Whetstone, in April 1891 the family home was at Hog Lane, Whetstone. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as an errand boy and was residing in the family home at New Row, Main Street, Whetstone, together with his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Sidney, a shoe trade riveter and Arthur a farm carter. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a farm cow man and was residing in the family home at New Row, Main Street, Whetstone, together with his father, a farm labourer, his mother and brother, Arthur, a farm labourer. Joseph also had two further older siblings, Sarah Ann, born 1867 and baptised on the 19th May 1867 in Whetstone Parish Church, Agnes Eliza, born 1869 and baptised on the 4th July 1869 in Whetstone Parish Church, both siblings were born in Whetstone. Joseph married Elizabeth Sanders Jesson on the 8th February 1916 in Sharnford Parish Church, Leicestershire, Elizabeth was born on the 10th March 1888 in Sharnford, and was baptised on the 6th May 1888 in Sharnford Parish Church.
Joseph enlisted into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allocated the service number 25886. He gave his place of birth as Whetstone, Leicestershire and age as 27 years 10 months. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as coal carter.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 126 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 35 inches.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Mary Richardson, 4, Alexander Street, Narborough.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. Leicester. 10/12/15.
Transferred. To Army Reserve. 11/12/15.
Mobilized. 1/3/16.
Posted. Leicestershire Regiment. Depot. Private. 1/3/16.
Posted. To Patrington Camp. 5/3/16.
Embarked. Folkestone. To join the British Expeditionary Force, France. 17/8/16.
Joined. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, Calais. 18/8/16.
Posted. 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. 18/8/16.
Posted. 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. 7/9/16.
Joined. 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. In the Field. 9/9/16.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 3/5/17.
Confirmed. Killed in action on or since the 3/5/17.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Joseph’s surviving service record amounts to a total of eleven pages, and these are in very poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 - HINDENBURG LINE. At 5.15 am Battalion in position. At 3.45 am Battalion moved forward to attack. Heavy enemy barrage opened simultaneously with our own barrage immediately in front of BROWN LINE. Machine gun fire opened at once from right and left flanks and from U.2.a.1.6. Heavy casualties were suffered from enemy barrage Captain F. P. COX killed and 2nd Lieutenant KING wounded. At 4.00 am the attacking troops on the left flank of the Battalion came across Battalion front forcing our troops to the right. A tank advanced down WOOD TRENCH but was forced to return owing to machine gun fire. 2nd Lieutenant -?-, 2nd Lieutenant GROOCOCK, Lieutenant LEAKE, 2nd Lieutenant BOYD and 2nd Lieutenant WILLET wounded. At 4.15 am the attack was held up on front of FONTAINE trench (running through U.1.b and U.2.a.). At 5.00 am the situation obscure. Runners sent forward with messages to Companies but none returned. At 7.00 am Lieutenant WALKER sent forward with 5 other ranks and a Lewis gun to work down WOOD TRENCH (see attached map). Lieutenant PLANT killed and 2nd Lieutenant CHOYCE wounded. At 7.40 am report received from Lieutenant WALKER that enemy were holding sunken road in front of FONTAINE WOOD and village in strength. Our men holding a line of shell holes about 50 yards in front of road. Telephone communication was established and Lieutenant WALKER remained in WOOD TRENCH until night of the 3rd/4th May sending much valuable information. At 8.45 am message received from Captain MILBURN that he was holding a trench with 1 officer and 30 other ranks with enemy on both flanks and in front. He was unable to identify his position and could see no troops on either flank. At 11.40 am reports received from Liaison officer with Battalion on our left that Brigade on left had withdrawn. Communication with Brigade Headquarters extremely difficult wires being continually cut. At 12.00 noon report received from Brigade Headquarters that the attack of the 64th Brigade on the right on the HINDENBURG LINE had made no progress. Continual machine gun fire and sniping made communications by runner impossible. At 5.30 pm message received from Lieutenant SCOTT (Officer Commanding “A” Company) via runner Lance Corporal LATTETT, this runner had been 4 hours getting to the Headquarters as he had to run from shell hole to shell hole owing to enemy fire. Message stated that Lieutenant SCOTT was at U.2.a.1.6 with 2 other officers and 20 other ranks. Enemy were observed bombing down FONTAINE TRENCH and had commenced working round the flanks of this party. At 7.30 pm enemy opened a heavy bombardment of BROWN LINE and appeared to be counter-attacking. All troops of 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in BROWN LINE and trenches in rear were assembled to counter-attack the enemy. Ration carrying parties were brought up and ‘stood to’ in support trench 40 yards in rear of BROWN LINE. At 8.00 pm enemy barrage still continued on BROWN LINE. Lewis gun posts were pushed forward from BROWN LINE. At 8.45 pm enemy barrage weakened considerably and ceased about 9.15 pm. At 12.00 midnight orders received that 13th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS would take over the BROWN LINE held by the Brigade and that all advance posts of the 110th Infantry Brigade were to be withdrawn.