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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2001-10 > 1002056736


From: "Steve & Lori" <>
Subject: [WW1] New to list
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 17:05:36 -0400


Hi,
I am hoping to find info on my great grandparents. Richard James Richards (aka Jim Richards) and Dorothy F. Pratt were both born in England, met and married during the war in Penzance, Cornwall, England.
Jim was a soldier and Dorothy worked in the army pay office in London. According to Jim, they were married Friday 08 Oct, 1918 and he was back to the front on Monday.

What I know:
Richard James Richards was born in the Germoe/Breage area of Cornwall in 1898, orphaned at age 11. He joined the army in 1915 (lied about his age). I have a photo of him seated in a chair in uniform. He has some type of *cane* held between his legs with his hands covering the top. He has a patch on his left lower arm that is round with the initials AAS over a pair of olive? leaves. I believe it stands for Anti Aircraft Section, as I know he was an anti aircraft gunner. His hat is not in the photo.

Other clues to his service:
-his son has told me that his hat had a badge on the front and on the rear. I do not know what either looked like, or whether they were the same badge.
-he received a 'Lord Wakefield of Hythes Commemorative medal' for the shooting down of the L-15 zepplin 31 Mar - 01 Apr 1916.

What I would like to know:
-Are the records for the Army pay office in London available, and do they have any helpful information?
-Can anyone help me identify the *unit* that Richard James Richards served with?

I appreciate any help,
Lori Sue Johnson nee Richards
Michigan, USA


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