The Somme Remembered – 22nd July 1916

Richard Elkhanah Hownam Healey was the son of Randolph Eddowes Healey and Alice Minnie nee Meek, who married in the Prestwich Registration District in the late summer of 1880.

In 1891 the family were living at St. Thomas’ Rectory, Cheetham, Manchester and Richard was one of three children.

Ten years later, in 1901, he is a scholar, living at Brooklands, London Road, Uppingham, with Samuel Haslam, the head of the house, and numerous boys and staff.

In the census of 1911, Richard is a boarder in the home of Jessie J A Millar aged 57, who is an artist and writer working for fashion magazine as a journalist.  Richard, has finished his education and is a daily newspaper reporter (journalist) – home being  11 Kensington Hall Gardens, London, W, which is infact a six roomed house.

He was educated at King Henry VIII School; Uppingham School, where is is during the 1901 census, and Selwyn College, Oxford.

Richard was in The Gazette of 27th of October 1914, when he became a 2nd Lieutenant, he was later promoted to a full Lieutenant.

Thiepval Memorial

100 years ago today Richard Elkhanah Hownam Healey was killed in action and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

As he was an officer Richard’s Service Record is available from the National Archives but has not yet been digitised.  If you are related or interested you will need to pay a visit to the Archives at Kew or employ a researcher.

Richard’s Medal Card tells that he was in the

Richard’s medal card

Royal West Kent Regiment and entered France in April of 1915.  His father, Rev. Randolph E Healey applied for his medals on 9th of August 1921, with an address included of Hownam Lodge, Odiham, Hampshire

The Memorial Plaque or ‘Death Penny’ belonging to Richard, was in November 2014 in a saleroom ready to be sold to the highest bidder and estimated to reach £40 – 60. I wonder who owns the plaque now that Richard gave his life for?

Richard is remembered on the war memorial in Odiham along with others from the surrounding area – I wrote about Richard a while ago.  He is also remembered on the King Henry VIII School Memorial and the Coventry Roll of Honour. I also believe he has his name recorded on the Uppingham School Memorial along with many others who attended that school.