Great Barr gardeners in centenary tribute to their adopted 'lost soldier' - with VIDEO and PICTURES
His body was never found in the mud and gore of the Passchendaele killing fields but Private William Richards is forever remembered in the unlikely setting of a Black Country allotment site, many miles form his native Wales.
The centenary of the soldier's death was commemorated with full honours at Thornbridge Allotments in Great Barr where his service medal was dug up several years ago. Growers at the site were intrigued by the discovery and set to work to find out who owned it.
After identifying Private Richards through his army number, they learned his military honours had been distributed among family members, including his brother-in-law Emrys Davies who later moved from the Rhondda Valley in south Wales to Great Barr and had an allotment plot at the site.
Uncovering the story of Private Richards, of the 7th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry, was taken on as a research project by the allotment committee and over the years they have even traced relatives of the miner's son who could never have realised he would be commemorated in this way.
After joining up in August 1914, at the outbreak of war, he died on September 26, 1917, in the Third Battle of Ypres, more commonly known as Passchendaele. He was just 22 and left a widow Miriam, whom he married 24 hours before returning to the front. She never saw him again.
Descendants of Miriam were at the service of remembrance on Saturday, and were moved by the growers' interest and respect for their great-uncle. A memorial garden dedicated to Private Richards was created by gardeners at the site.
June Edwards, 78, who travelled from Stourport-on-Severn with husband Gerald for the service, said: "It came as a great shock to me. We knew of William, of course, through our Aunty May, as we called her, but not the details and we certainly didn't know that he is commemorated like this. It's very moving."
John Davies, 67, of the Park Hall Estate, Walsall, who was there with his wife Linda, said; "It was all a surprise. It was my father Emrys that had the allotment here but we have no idea how the medal came to be buried here - whether he did it deliberately or by accident."
The service, in a marquee at the Beeches Road site, was conducted by Rev Smitha Prasadam of St Paul's Church, Scott Arms, and attended by Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Carl Rice and members of the Royal British Legion who carried standards.
Site chairman Andy Poyner and vice-chair John Spencer helped to organise the service which was also attended by plot-holders and their families.
"He is our adopted 'lost soldier'," said Mr Poyner.
