1253 Private Thomas Alexander Richardson
1/6th(Perthshire)Battalion(Territorial)
The Black Watch(Royal Highlanders)
13th November 1916
Born on 11/05/1895at 9.30pm in Comrie Perthshire, Scotland. His parents were Thomas Alexander Richardson( 01/04/1866-25/02/1950) and Elizabeth Gourlay(1869-03/01/1934). They were married on 01/05/1894.
Thomas had 2 brothers, Victor Albert(1897-14/11/1958) and Gourlay(1902-06/07/1977).
In the 1901(Scottish) census, the family were recorded as living on the High Street in Dunkeld, Perthshire. Thomas snr was employed as a tailor and clothier.
The 1911(Scottish) census showed the family still living on the High Street in Dunkeld with Thomas snr also still working as a tailor. Thomas jnr was now working as well, being employed as an apprentice painter.
When war broke out, Thomas was already a private in the 1/6th (Perthshire) Battalion(Territorials),
The Black Watch(Royal Highlanders), having enlisted in 1911. He was sent across to France on 02/05/1915.
He survived at the front until 13/11/1916 when on the first day of the battle of Ancre, he was killed in action as his battalion were involved in the capture of the village of Beaumont Hamel on the Somme in France.
Thomas was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
Perthshire Constitutional & Journal – Monday 27 November 1916
Dunkeld Casualties
News has been received from his commanding officer of the death of Private T.A. Richardson, Black Watch, which occurred
on 13th November. Private Richardson who was only 21 years of age, had been a member of the Territorials since 1911.
He was mobilised at the outbreak of war and had been over 18 months at the front. Previous to mobilisation Private Richardson was employed by Mr C Gourlay, painter, Dunkeld.
Deceased’s father is serving as regimental tailor to the Scottish Horse and his younger brother Victor is at present in a base hospital.
His father also enlisted at the age of 44 in Perth on 28/09/1914 as Private (117) into the 6th Black Watch, before transferring to the 3/1st Scottish Horse on 15/05/1915. He was transferred again on 27/02/1917 to the reserves to resume duties as postman at the Post Office in Dunkeld.
On 10/06/1918 he was discharged from the Scottish Horse as being no longer physically fit for war service.
His brother Victor, also enlisted as a Private( 1359 then 265184) in 1/6th The Black Watch. He was discharged on 23/02/1920. He was recorded as having disabilities of a gunshot wound to his right arm and leg. Upon his passing in 1958,
his death certificate recorded part of the reason for his passing was because of war wounds.