Frederick William Richardson was born on 1st January 1870 and was baptised in St Andrew’s Church on 8th May that year. On 11th November 1889, Frederick enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery for a period of seven years plus a further four in the Reserve. After almost a year serving at home, Frederick was posted to India, not returning to Britain until 5th November 1897 when he was transferred to the Army Reserve. Two years later, on 1st November 1899, he received orders to rejoin his regiment who were bound for South Africa and the Boer War.

In South Africa, Frederick served with the 113th Battery Royal Field Artillery, attached to the Natal Field Force Ammunition Column. He returned home after two years on 29th November 1900. For the South African Campaign, Frederick received the 1899 South Africa Medal along with clasps to show that he had taken part in actions at Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tugela Heights, The Relief of Ladysmith and Laing’s Nek. Frederick was in Melton in April 1901 and is recorded as living in his mother’s house in Prospect Place. We know he was back in the village at least once more that year, when he married Eliza Eagle from Ufford in St Andrew’s Church, Melton on 22nd June. Frederick remained in the Royal Field Artillery for a further two years after returning from South Africa and was finally discharged on 2nd April 1902. Frederick and Eliza set up home together in Castle Street, Woodbridge, where their five children were born: Elsie Bertha, Arthur William, Charles Samuel, Frederick David and Nellie Elizabeth. In 1911, Frederick and his family were still living in Castle Street and he was working as a maltster’s labourer.

When war was declared in August 1914, Frederick was quick to enlist, joining the Royal Field Artillery once more, only to be discharged as medically unfit in February 1915. This did not deter Frederick though and he tried once more on 6th September 1915 when he was accepted into the 7th Labour Battalion, Royal Engineers and sent to France less than two weeks later.

In August 1917, his battalion was reformed into the 706 Labour Company and, the following month, Frederick was transferred once more to the HQ Group of Quarries where he was promoted to the rank of Sapper. The HQ Group of Quarries were responsible for the workings of several quarries in France and Belgium that produced stone for the building and repair of roads. Frederick was finally discharged from the services on 5th May 1919 when he returned home to Castle Street.

For his war service, Frederick was entitled to receive the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medals, however, due to his death on 24th October 1921, they were sent to his family.