Straw. Richard

Was born in Ilkeston, Derby, he was the son of John Straw of 61, Station Road, Ilkeston and husband of Alice Witney (formerly Straw) of 2, Peel Sqaure, Queen Street, Hoyland Common, he enlisted at Barnsley and was killed in action on the 12th April, 1918, while serving on the Western Front.

He was formerly part of "D" Coy. 14th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment,

From the book "Barnsley Pals" by Jon Cooksey,

Richard Straw's name appears on the nominal roll of the 14th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment, like many other in 1914 he joined the "Barnsley Pals" and trained at camps in Silkstone, Penkridge Bank at Rugeley, Ripon and Hurdcott on Salisbury Plain,

On Boxing day 1915 the Barnsley 13th and 14th Battalions left Hurdcott to board H.M.T. Andania on the 29th December, 1915, and eventually arrived in Port Said in January, 1916, they went on to El Ferdan to build defensive trenches along the western bank of the Suez Canal at Abu Aruk.

On the 8th March, 1916, they marched from Kantara to embark on the 10th March, aboard H.M.T. Briton and H.M.T. Megantic to arrive at Marseilles on St. Patrick's day 17th March, 1916, where they boarded cattle cars for a 50 hour journey north, to arrive in Pont Remy on the 19th March, 1916, and service on the Western Front.

The book also describes many first hand experiences of the "Barnsley Pals", their journey and the actions they were involved in from training through to their eventual return to Barnsley and the marching of the Battalions colours into Saint. Mary's Church on the 29th May, 1919.

Picture by June & Peter  Marsden