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Early Life and Family

Richard Watts was born on 12 May 1872 in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, the son of George Watts (1816–1883) and Ellen Coleman (1843–1916). His father died when Richard was eleven, leaving Ellen to raise a large family. Richard grew up alongside siblings George, Joseph, William, and Patrick.

Military Service: Boer War (1894–1902)

Enlistment and Overseas Service
Richard enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 3 August 1894 (Regimental No. 4498). His attestation papers describe him as 5 ft 4 in tall, 126 lbs, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows:

• East Indies: 9 February 1894 – 17 May 1897
• South Africa: 18 May 1897 – 12 September 1902
• Returned home later in 1902.

This extended South African service—over five years—placed Richard in nearly every phase of the war.

Battle of Talana (20 October 1899)

The Battle of Talana, near Dundee in Natal, was the first major clash of the Second Boer War. British forces under Major General Sir William Penn Symons attacked Boer positions on Talana Hill. Richard was serving with the Mounted Infantry detachment of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

At dawn, Boer artillery opened fire on the British camp. Amid the chaos, the Mounted Infantry moved forward to scout and harass the enemy. But Boer commandos swept around the flanks, cutting off Richard and his comrades. Outnumbered and under accurate rifle fire, they surrendered. Richard became a prisoner of war on 20 October 1899 and was interned at Waterval Camp near Pretoria until 6 June 1900.



Return to Service: Mounted Infantry Operations (July 1900–May 1902)

After release, Richard rejoined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Mounted Infantry during the guerrilla phase of the war. Their duties included:

• Sweeps in Eastern Transvaal and Orange Free State to capture Boer commandos and destroy supply lines.
• Reconnaissance and raids as part of Colonel E.C. Knox’s column in early 1901.
• Defence of Fort Itala (Sept 1901) against Botha’s forces, a celebrated MI action.
• Blockhouse patrols and convoy protection during the final drives of 1902.

Richard earned the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Talana, Orange Free State, Transvaal and the King’s South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, confirming continuous service through the war’s end.

Interwar Period

Following the war on 4 April 1904, Richard married Edith Marchant Brownhill (1884–1959) in Birmingham. They had five children:

• George (b. 1905)
• Richard (b. 1906)
• Mary (b. 1908)
• John Thomas (b. 1910)
• Edith Dorothy (b. 1914)

By 1911, the family lived in Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, where Richard worked as a labourer.

Military Service: World War I (1915–1918)

First Attempt to Enlist
In August 1915, Richard attempted to enlist at Woolwich for the Army Service Corps, but was discharged soon after, likely for medical reasons. His papers note “not being medically fit.”

Final Enlistment and Service Timeline
Richard successfully enlisted later with the York & Lancaster Regiment, 6th Battalion, as Private No. 23092. His service record shows:

• Home Service: 14 August 1915 – 24 October 1915
• Mediterranean Service: 25 October 1915 – 26 June 1916
• France: From 27 June 1916 until his death.

Gallipoli Campaign (1915)
The 6th Battalion was part of the 32nd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division, which landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, in August 1915. Richard joined during this period and endured the harsh conditions of the Dardanelles campaign.

• The battalion fought in the Battle of Scimitar Hill on 21 August 1915, one of the largest British assaults at Gallipoli. The attack aimed to seize high ground overlooking Suvla Bay but met fierce resistance and heavy casualties.
• Life at Gallipoli was brutal: intense heat, disease, poor sanitation, and constant shellfire.
• After the failed offensives, the battalion remained in the trenches until the evacuation in December 1915, then moved to Egypt for reorganization before transferring to France in mid-1916.

Service in France
• 1916: Fought in the Battle of the Somme, including actions at Wundt-Werk, Flers-Courcelette, and Thiepval Ridge.
• 1917: Served in the Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
• 1918: Faced the German Spring Offensive and subsequent rearguard actions near Pernes.

Death
Richard Watts died on 20 May 1918, aged 46, during the aftermath of the German advance. He is buried at Pernes British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France (Grave I.F.25).

Without a doubt a dedicated soldier who fought for his country and saw significant service in South Africa, Gallipoli and the trenches of France and Flanders. RIP.

Provenance
Courtesy of Medal News 2000: