Name
Richard John Tyers
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/06/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
15550
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Born in Watford in 1887 and baptised on 23 September 1887 at St Mary’s church in Watford, Richard John Tyers was the son of Charles and Eliza (nee Gransby) Tyers. It has not been possible to find an on-line record for the marriage of his parents.
At the 1881 census, his parents were living at 1 Faraday Road, Kensington with three children: six-year-old Samuel, four-year-old George and 10-month-old Emma. Charles and Eliza were 32 and 31 years old respectively and Charles was employed as a bricklayer. Birthplaces were given as Hertfordshire for Charles, Watford for Eliza and Samuel, and Kensington for George and Emma.
At the 1891 census, Eliza had moved to Fitz Place, in London Road, Bushey and was working as a laundress. Charles was not present, but Samuel and George now had four more siblings. They were called Rebecca, Emmie, Charles (Jnr.) and Richard and were 11, 8, 6 and 3 years old respectively. Samuel was working as a bricklayer’s labourer. Birthplaces were given as Bushey for all family members.
At the 1901 census, Eliza had moved again to 5 Crook Log, which stood on the London Road near ‘The Merry Month of May’ alehouse in Bush. Rebecca was no longer present, but Samuel, George, Emmie, Charles and Richard were still living at home. Birthplaces were given as Bushey for Eliza, London for George and Watford for all of the other family members.
Richard married Mary Elizabeth Eley at St James’ church in Bushey on 19 June 1909, and at the 1911 census they were living at 68 Villiers Road in Watford with and 11-month-old child called Richard. Richard was working as a general labourer. Also boarding with them was Caroline Dean, a widow, who was working as a char woman.
Also at the 1911 census, Richard’s mother, then 62 years old, was still living at 5 Crook Log with Samuel and George. She records herself as widowed, but it has not been possible to find a corresponding record for a death of a Charles Tyers. There is a record for 1911 for an inmate named Charles Tyers at the Watford Union and Infirmary, 60 Vicarage Road in Watford, although his marital status was given as single, his age as 68 and his occupation as a bricklayer. He died, aged 83, on 13 July 1927 at what by that time had become Watford Hospital at 60 Vicarage Road.
Wartime Service
Richard John Tyers enlisted in Watford and served on the Western Front as Sergeant 15550 with the 7th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 26 June 1916, aged 28, when a shell fell on “C” Company Officers’ Mess in the front line near Carnoy. He was entitled to the British War, Victory and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 26 July 1915.
He is remembered with honour at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial, at St James’ Parish Church and on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
There is an article about Richard in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 8 July 1916, and an article and Death announcement in the issue dated 22 July 1916.
Richard’s pension card named his widow, Mary Elizabeth, as his dependant, with an address of 136 Villiers Road, Oxhey. It listed two children: Richard Charles (b. 9 April 1910) and Gladys Mary (b. 29 January 1912) and showed an award of 19s. 6d. per week with effect from 8 January 1917 and subsequently increased to 25s. 5d.
The card is later annotated “Woman remarried 19.6.17 to Charles Alexander Tyers, gen. labourer. Gratuity was £41.6.5 paid to Mrs Tyers 13.11.17. Pens. For children continued to mother. There is a separate card which named his mother, Mrs Eliza Tyers, as his dependant living at 1 Crook Log Cottage, Old Bushey and showed an award of 10s. per week with effect from 1 September 1917.”
Mary had remarried in 1917 to Charles A Tyers and died in 1972, aged 82, in the Watford district.
The Additional Information section of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, states: “Son of Mrs Eliza Tyers; husband of Mary Elizabeth Tyers of 136, Villiers Road, Oxhey, Watford, Herts."
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) There is an article about Richard in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 8 July 1916, and an article and Death announcement in the issue dated 22 July 1916. Additional information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
