HART, Richard

Richard Hart was the son of Richard and Myra Hart of Lye and attended Wollescote school. He was married to Susanna, later of 2 Brook Street, Lye. He enlisted in the Worcesters and was sent to the 4th Battalion on the Western Front. In 1916 they were in the reserve trenches for the first day of the Somme at Beaumont-Hamel. The first line troops in front of them suffered so severely that the Worcesters did not go 'over the top' immediately but they then had to contest possession of Ovillers for ten days. In the Spring of 1917 they were in the Arras battles and notably in the attacks on Monchy-le-Preux. They then moved to Flanders and fought in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 16th August they led the way in the battle of Langemark. The assault started at 4.45 a.m. after a fearful night march when Summer rain had produced the worst of Flanders mud. Territory was won and held but casualties were high. They included Private Richard Hart who is buried in Oostaverne Wood Cemetery (V F 14). He was 39 years of age and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials.