Richard John Lister.

Richard John Lister came from St. Ives, when he enlisted he gave his home as Needingworth.  The first time he appears in HCB records is on the 11/12/1914, little is known about his time in the HCB, but he was later transferred into the 8th Bedford Regiment where he was allocated the number 23016.
Richard John Lister was born in St. Ives, the son of John and Susan Jane Lister. He was baptised at St. Ives Parish Church on 18th January 1886. Richard's younger brother Joseph was also killed in the war serving with the Bedford Regt. On 26th December 1906 Richard married Clara Dodson at St. Ives Parish Church. The couple had three children: Charles John born 26th May 1907, Edith Maud Grace born 22nd August 1909 and Joe born 15th July 1911. Before the war Richard worked as a Labourer, and the family lived in East Street, St. Ives and later in Needingworth.

Richard enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as a Private, no. 23016 in December 1914. He was drafted to France with the 8th (Service) Battalion Bedford Regt., 24th Division in August 1915. In October 1915 the 8th Bedford's were transferred to the 6th Division. On 15th September 1916 the 8th Bedford's took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme.

By the end of the day Richard was missing. He was later presumed to have been killed in action. Richard has no known grave and is commemorated on Pier 2, Face C of the Thiepval Memorial, France.

He is also commemorated on St. Ives A Parish Church Altar of Remembrance as Private Richard J. Lister and on St. Ives War Memorial, Market Hill as Pte. Richard J. Lister.
He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme in France.

Many thanks to Judith Dunkling and John Ward for data on this man.

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
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09/04/2012

 . . Martyn Smith ©
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