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Married bigamously in 1919 after the birth of an illegitimate child. Fled to USA, and died there many years later
1892 Apr 27. Born in Knockin, Shropshire, England son of Elizabeth Susannah Richards and John . His father he gave later as "contractor and builders assistant"
1901 census at 46, Cullen Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Elizabeth Susannah Richards had married Arbert Portis in 1894
1911 census at Bank House, 3 English Walls, Knockin, Oswestry where he is a boarder
1913 Jan/Mar Married Margaret Jane Davies in Shropshire
1913 Feb 5. Enlists in 4th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He is a Colliers Labourer living at Chirk and employed by Black Park Colliery
1914 Aug 5. Embodied
1914 Nov 20. Appointed L/Cpl
1915 Jan 7. Promoted Cpl.
1915 Jul 23. Promoted Sergeant
1916 A son born by 1st wife, John Arthur Richards, died 1988
1917 May 18. Leaves UK for Egypt Expeditionary Force
1917 May 31. Landed Palestine
1917 Jun 2. Posted to 25 Royal Welsh Fusiliers
1917 Apr/Jun A daughter Betty R M Richards born (mother Devereux, who was his mistress at that date)
1917 Dec 8. The undermentioned W.Os., N.C.Os., and men to be temp. 2nd Lt. North'n R.— Serjt. David Arthur Richards, from R. Welsh Fus., T.F. He is attached to 1/4 Northampton Regt at Kantara. His permanent address at this time is given a s "Foxall Cottages, Macsbury Marsh, Oswestry, Shropshire". By now he has changed his previous employment to "miller"!
1917 Dec 25. Enters hospital in Cairo with "septic sores"
1918 Feb 21 Posted to Command Depot Mustaphor
1918 Feb 28 Back in Hospital with septic sores.
1918 Apr 17. Discharged from hospital
1918 Jun 27. Classifies "B" by medical board held at 19 General Hospital. Eczema to both feet and legs.
1919 Feb 5. Invalided back to UK from Salonica. His UK address is given as 2 Connaught Rd, Norwood, Surrey
1919 Feb 27 Medical Board Reading
1919 Jan/Mar married Annie Devereux in Surrey (this appears to be a bigamous marriage)
1919 Jun 8. Northampton R. Temp. 2nd Lt. D. A. Richards to be temp. Lt. with precedence next below W. Field.
1919 Oct 15." Released from Military Duty"
1919 Dec 4. His wife's solicitor is trying to get him as he has abandoned his family
1920 Jan/Mar Daughter Edna M born Guildford
1920 Jul 27 Joined ADRIC with service number 8. Posted to J company
1920 Sep 26. Arrested for neglect of his family
1921 Jan 29 Posted to Depot.
1921 Feb 21. Posted to J Coy.
1921 May 28. Posted to A Coy
1921 Jun 18. Posted to Depot
1921 Aug 12. Re-engaged for another contract
1921 Sep 1. Relinquishes his army commission at completion of service, and retain rank of Lt.
1921 Sep 24. Posted to C Coy
1922 Jan 13. Discharged on demobilisation of ADRIC
An ancestry tree says survived the war and stayed in France, remarried and had children but whereabouts unknown There is a marriage in Dublin in 1936 that could be him. Alternatively there is a marriage of David Richards to Hannah Morgan in Carmarthen in Oct/Dec 1921, which is less likely to be it.
1922 May 22. Leaves UK on SS Homeric for New York . His data says born "Knockin" and that he was going to his uncle T Parry in Bernardsville, NJ. He is intending to stay in USA and not return to UK. His nearest relative in UK is given as J A Richards I Hut, H M Prison, Leeds, to which a US official has added the Coldharbour Lane Address that appears on his MIC as well. Plus "wife Anne? Richards". He gives his profession as "Farmer" to which the official has added "farm labourer"
This appears to be him, he moves his Christian names around, but the age is correct in 1930. It seems to be the same man dead in 1977
1930 On US Census living in New Jersey as Arthur D Richards with wife Annie, says he arrived US 1922, and aged 37. They have 3 children, 2 daughters (including Edna) and a son
1940 Living in Harding, New Jersey with wife Annie and 20 year old daughter Edna. All 3 born England. Would tie in with his 1922 emigration info above with both wife Annie and born Knockin. He is a Route Salesman
1942 US draft card he gives his birth date as 28 Apr 1892, which ties in with other sources
1977 May Died in New Jersey. Odd thing is when this man dies in US his date of birth is given as 24 Jun 1895