Private Richard Oram

Reg No;48423
2nd/6th Battalion
North Staffordshire Regiment

Died March 24th 1918 Aged 25.
Remembered with Honour at;
Arras Memorial,
St Andrews Church Dalton le Dale
Murton Cenotaph

Richard was born February 1891,and baptised in St Andrews Church Dalton le Dale, April 7 1891. He lived with parents, Christopher and Margaret Ann, brothers John James, Thomas, Rogers, Christopher together with sisters Mary, Rachael, Sarah Hannah, and Margaret in Church Cottage Dalton le Dale.

Father Christopher was the church caretaker and bell ringer, His wife Margaret was responsible for the laundering of apparel and linens used for church services.

April 2nd 1911 then aged 20 Richard was employed at Murton Colliery as a labourer at bank then a screener. On November 1st 1914 aged 23, he enlisted at Seaham Harbour in the Prince of Wales North Staffordshire Regiment

Richard married Mary Ethel Gale in early 1915, they resided at 2 East End Cottages, Dalton le Dale, having twin girls Betty and Margaret.

January 1915 the Battalion moved to Luton area and joined 176th Brigade of the 59th Division before moving again to St Albans.

The Regiment moved to Dublin Ireland in 1916 where it was involved in the ‘Easter Rising’ then merged with the 1/6th Battalion in July 1918

Jan 1917 Regiment mobilised for war landed in France and engaged in action on the Western Front. The pursuit of the Germans retreat to the Hindeburgh Line, The Battle and Capture of Bourton Wood

The sodden mist-shrouded dawn of 24 March 1918, Palm Sunday, prefaced a day of grave political and Military crisis as more ground was lost by the British

By nightfall the British had lost the line of the Somme (except between the Omignon and the Tortille).

That evening after enduring unceasing shelling, Bapaume was evacuated. During the night elements of the right of Third Army completed a long and confused retirement across the 'devastated zone' and occupied a new line but renewed German onslaughts ensured chaotic rearward

By 6pm Byng ordered a further retirement beyond the Ancre to a new front on which to make a stand. Throughout the night of 25th March the greater portions of Third Army attained their designated positions but in the process 'gaps' appeared in the defensive lines - the largest of over four miles between V and VI Corps.That evening after enduring unceasing shelling, Bapaume was evacuated. During the night elements of the right of Third Army completed a long and confused retirement across the 'devastated zone' and occupied a new line but renewed German onslaughts ensured chaotic rearward

By nightfall the British had lost the line of the Somme (except between the Omignon and the Tortille).

March 24/25,th 1918 The First Battle of Bapaume Richard aged 25, was killed in Action