Thiepval Battlefield, September 1916.
Earnest Brookes © IWM (Q 1073)
Private Richard Hannaford
8th Battalion, the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 27 April 1880
Place of Birth: Ideford, Devon
Date of Death: Died 26 September 1916 aged 36
Buried: Courcelette British Cemetery, Somme; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Memorial Window, Teignmouth,Devon; also on Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Private Richard Hannaford age 36. Richard was born in Ideford in April 1880 and was baptised there on 6 June 1880, his parents were Samuel, a labourer, and Mary Hannaford.
His mother was born in Buckland and his father was born in Widecombe, Richard spent time in Widecombe with his uncle who was a farmer, he attended school in Chudleigh and Widecombe.
He was shown on 1881 census with parents living in Ideford. In 1891 he was shown at Langworthy Farm, Widecombe living with his uncle, aunt and cousins.
In 1901 he was living and working as a maltster for William Yalland in Newton Abbot. By 1911 William Yalland had died and his widow and two children, Florence Ann and William, were living at 27 Bickford Lane, Teignmouth, Richard was still living with the family as a boarder.
Richard and Florence Yalland married in 1912 and they emigrated to Canada where he became a Canadian citizen.
Richard attested in Edmonton on 21 September 1915. His attestation record shows that he was a Royal Marine for 11 years.
He was serving with 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), service no. 101268, when he was killed during the fight for Thiepval Ridge on 26 September 1916.
He was reburied at Courcelette British Cemetery, Somme; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Memorial Window, Teignmouth; also on Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
His widow, Florence, returned to Teignmouth after his death where she became a post lady delivering letters during the war.
