Bertie Stockdale RICHARDSON

16/944, Private). b. 1895, Clayton d. Wed. 15th August 1917 (aged 22).

A close friend of Norman Randle, Bertie was another Clayton lad who served with the Pals. His and Norman’s stories are very similar in that they both served together and were wounded on 1st July 1916. Both were sent home to recuperate and both were declared fit for duty at the same time in early 1917.

This meant that Bertie was also sent to the 2nd West Yorkshire’s on his return to France and the pair served together for the next six months until tragedy struck for Bertie. Whilst asleep on the night of the 15th August 1917 an enemy shell dropped on his position killing him instantly and narrowly missing Norman. It was left to Norman and two other comrades to bury Bertie’s body in a location not far from their trench, which they did but not before another shell dropped badly injuring Norman as well.

Norman was invalided back to Britain and whilst in hospital on the South Coast wrote to Bertie’s family telling them his account of the events surrounding Bertie’s death.

Bertie was the son of John and Annie Richardson of 1, Granville Street Clayton. He is buried at Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3, Voormezeele, Ypres, Belgium.

His headstone is inscribed “He Died For King and Country”.