Linselles Communal Cemetery, Nord, France
PRIVATE FREDERICK RICHARDS, who
left Calgary with a draft from the 56th battalion last
year, was listed as missing some time ago, is now believed
to have surrendered his life in battle. A letter to
this effect was received by his brother, Charles Richards,
in this city yesterday, from the subaltern of his platoon,
and the message speaks for itself.
"I am sorry to have to tell you that your brother
has not returned from a raid made on the German trenches
on Sept. 16. I have kept the enclosed letter until now
in hopes of being able to tell you something definite
about him. Your brother was a man who would fight to
the last, and I offer you no hope of his being alive,
especially as the barrage fire was extremely heavy on
both sides. He was very popular with his comrades and
myself and I only express my sorrow at my section having
lost such a gallant soldier."
Private Richards worked in The Herald pressroom for
several years and was always considered a capable and
conscientious employee. He was quite popular about the
city and known to a wide circle of acquaintances. He
is the second Herald employee to lay down his life for
the Empire, and also the second member of the local
Pressman’s union. While in Calgary, Pte. Richards
was sergeant-at-arms of the Calgary Printing Pressman’s
union, 201. His father was also a member of the Canadian
overseas forces, but was recently invalided home. Pte.
Richards leaves a wife and child in England to mourn
his loss.
Calgary
Daily Herald 19/10/1916
Commonwealth
War Graves Commission Record
