Pte 94185 Richard Massey

• Age: 36
• From: Dukinfield, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Richard was born in Dukinfield Cheshire in the second quarter of 1881, the son of William Massey and his wife Mary (nee Littlewood) who married on the 02nd October 1871 at St Mark's Church, Dukinfield. William was shown as a 21 year old collier.

On 1881 Census the family are at 5 Railway St, Dukinfield, his father 31 is a coal miner, mother Mary is 31, and his elder brothers John W. 6 and Joseph 4.

His father died in the March quarter of 1885, aged 34.

His mother Mary remarried to Samuel Stephenson in 1890 at St Michael, Ashton-under-Lyne. 

On 1891 Census the family are living at Church Street, Dukinfield. His stepfather, Samuel Stephenson is a coal miner born in Houghton Green, Lancashire whilst his mother Mary was born in Stockport in 1851. Richard is 9 years of age and has two elder brothers also born in Dukinfield; John W. b.1875 and Joseph b.1877.

The 1901 Census shows his mother, still married, as the head of household living at 58 Church Street, Dukinfield. Richard is 19 and a coal miner. Also present is his brother John William.   

Richard married Mary Ellen Bibby on 01st January 1902 at St. Mark's Church, Dukinfield. He is described as a 21 year old bachelor employed as a Collier, whilst Mary Ellen is described as a 20 year old spinster.

He was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 94185 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Richard was originally reported as Missing in the Weekly Casualty List 25th June 1918;

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

We currently have no further information on Richard Massey, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.