Harry Gordon Richardson was born in Woodbridge in 1884, the son of William and Harriet (née Chambers). In 1901, Harry was apprenticed to a house painter and, by 1911, he was employed by St Audry’s Hospital’s maintenance department. Harry joined the Woodbridge Company of the 4th (Territorial) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 5th August 1914 and met with his fellow company members at their war station in Felixstowe a few days later.

After training in Shenfield and Severalls in Essex, the battalion received their mobilisation orders on the 5th November 1914. They entrained in Colchester for Southampton and, four days later, made the short trip across the Channel to Le Havre. Harry and the battalion were then sent to St Omer where they underwent training for mobile warfare. It was not until 11th December that one company of the 4th Suffolks found themselves in front line trenches at La Bassée. Ten days after that, William and the 4th Suffolks were taking part in the Defence of Givenchy. On 12th March 1915, Harry and the battalion were engaged in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in which the 4th Suffolks incurred two hundred and seventeen casualties.

Harry returned to Melton on leave later that year; he married Eleanor Mildred Holmes during this period. At some point, Harry was transferred to the 2nd Suffolks and then to the 11th Suffolks, from where he was discharged on 17th April 1918 from wounds he had received in France and Belgium. Harry returned to work at St Audry’s Hospital on 21st May 1918. He died in 1936 while living on Hasketon Road, Woodbridge.

For his war service, Harry received the 1914 Star, the British War and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.