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    Richard Samuel Steatham

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Richard Samuel Steatham, with Olive and his very proud mother Elizabeth Steatham [Nee Sheldon [Nee Smith]] Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	Featured Steathams Richard Samuel Steatham (23-Sep-24 to 28-Jul-44). Richard was born on Tuesday the 23rd September 1924, at 417 Darlaston Road, Walsall, and was baptised on the same day at St Johns, Pleck. His parents were James Arthur Steatham (1874-1950) and Elizabeth [Nee Sheldon [Nee Smith]]. James Arthur Steatham was a son of Joseph Steatham (1850-1929), who was a son of Joseph Steatham (1806-1889), who was one of Robert Steatham's surviving sons. So Richard Samuel Steatham was a Great Great Grandson of Robert Steatham. He had two brothers and five sisters. Richard's mother's first husband Joseph Sheldon is a featured person, Click here to read an investigation into his life.
Richard Samuel Steatham with Olive. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	This is the photo of Richard and Olive [his future wife] [date unknown - possibly taken at the rear of 417 Darlaston Road].
Richard Samuel Steatham. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	This is the photo of Richard aged about sixteen, in his Auxiliary Fire Service uniform. 1 Bradford Street, Walsall has now been rebuilt and that address is now occupied by a Hearing Aid Shop! [2023]. The Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) was first formed in 1938 in Great Britain as part of the Civil Defence Service. Its role was to supplement the work of brigades at local level. The Auxiliary Fire Service and the local brigades were superseded in August 1941 by the National Fire Service. Members of the AFS were unpaid part-time volunteers, but could be called up for whole-time paid service if necessary. An AFS was formed in every county borough, borough and urban district. Each AFS was commanded by a commandant, with deputy and assistant commandants in the larger services. The services operated their own fire stations, each commanded by a section officer, and station areas were divided into fire beats, each under the command of a patrol officer.
Richard with his regiment. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	Richard joined the army in December 1942, serving with the 5th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, based at Whittington barracks, Lichifield I have a copy of a photo of Richard with his regiment. Not confirmed but I think that Richard is in middle row, second from the right. I have so far not located his enlistment papers or his service record.
Richard Samuel Steatham. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	This is the photo that Richard's sister, Florence Emily Steatham carried in her Identity papers wallet, all through the war. I wonder when the photo was taken? Notice that Richard's cap badge is clearly visible on his hat!
Richard Samuel Steatham's marriage. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	Richard married Olive Beckett on Tuesday the 7th March 1944, at St Johns Church, Pleck, Walsall, Staffs. This church has a strong connection to members of this branch of the Steatham tree. A number of his siblings were baptised and married there. Coincidentally my sister was also married there and I attended St Johns Infant school and went on to be a choir boy there for six years.
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery.	Richard served with the 5th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, we do not yet have his enlistment papers, service record or which Company he was a member of. The South Staffords as part of 59th Division [the 5th, 1/6th and 2/6th were in the 177th Brigade], sailed to Normandy as a follow-up Division in the third week of June 1944. 177th Infantry Brigade consisted of... 5th Battalion, the South Staffordshire Regiment. 1st/6th Battalion, the South Staffordshire Regiment. 2nd/6th Battalion, the South Staffordshire Regiment. The 5th, 1/6th, 2/6th and 7th battalions, all Territorials, all served as part of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division alongside battalions of the North Staffordshire Regiment. The 7th Battalion was part of 176th Brigade and the 5th, 1/6th and 2/6th were in 177th Brigade. The division was sent to France in late June 1944 to fight in the Battle for Caen. The division performed well and was considered by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery as one of the best in the 21st Army Group. Caen had been a D-Day objective. But a month after the invasion the ancient Norman capital remained in German hands. With the arrival of 59th Division in Normandy, Field Marshall Montgomery had just what he needed to renew the attack on Caen by frontal assault. Operation CHARNWOOD 7th - 9th July called for 59th Division to join 1st Corps at the center of the line between 3rd Canadian Division and 3rd British Division. With all three divisions attacking simultaneously, assisted by massive artillery and naval support fire, the defenders would, in theory, be overwhelmed. In addition to being the first battle for 59th Division, CHARNWOOD saw the first use of carpet bombing in France. The city of Caen was attacked by over 400 bombers on the night of July 7th. It was a morale booster for the attackers, but had virtually no impact on the German troop positions north and west of the city. Order of Battle, 1st July 1944. 1,147 officers, 21,575 enlisted men. Division Commander : Major-General L. O. Lyne. 176th Brigade : Brigadier R. W. H. Fryer. 7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. 6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. 177th Brigade : Brigadier M. Elrington. 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. 1st/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. 2nd/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment Click this link for more information.
Newspaper report of Richard's death death. L.M.S. badge.	Richard was tragically killed in action on Friday the 28th July 1944. The regiments war diary may well reveal more information about the place and curcumstances of his death. Richard's death was reported in the Walsall Observer Front Page 12th August 1944, with a photo of Richard, which said:- Married only three months ago, the wife of Pte. Richard Samuel Steatham, who lives with her parents at 27 Bassett Street Walsall has been notified that he had fallen in action while serving in Normandy. His parents live at 417 Darlaston Road Pleck. Only 19 years of age. Pte. Steatham joined the army in December, 1942, having been previously employed in the L.M.S. Goods Department at Darlaston. He is an old boy Hillary Street School. An elder brother, Sapper John William Steatham, is in Italy with the Royal Engineers and has been serving abroad for about 15 months. In addition we have mentioned. ^[BNA] Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle - Saturday 12th August 1944 STEATHAM.- In loving memory of my beloved husband, Richard, killed in action B.L.A, July 1944. The shock was severe, to part with one we loved so dear.-Always in the thoughts and lovingly remembered by wife Olive, Mom and Dad Beckett and Family. STEATHAM.- Loving memories of a dear son and brother, Richard, aged 19, killed in action, July, 1944. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember him.-Sadly missed by Mom, Dad, Jack (Italy), Brothers and Sisters. BLA British Liberation Army. The British Liberation Army was the official name given to the British Army forces which fought on the Western Front of World War II between the Invasion of Normandy and the end of the war. Almost all BLA units were assigned to the 21st Army Group, which also included forces from other countries. Following the war the BLA was redesignated to become the British Army of the Rhine in August 1945. Much later we see mentioned. Birmingham Daily Gazette - 3th October 1944 MIDLAND MEN AND A.T.S GIRLS IN CASUALTY LIST ...In a War Office casualty list. Casualties in Midland regiments are: South Staffs, Regiment.- Killed: - ... R.S.Steatham... Again much later we see mentioned. Walsall Observer - 31st July 1948 STEATHAM.- Loving memories of our dear son and brother, Richard (South Staffs.), killed in action July 28. 1944. Years are swiftly passing, Still we never forget. In the hearts of those who loved you, Your memory lingers yet.- Mom, Dad, Brothers, Sisters. STEATHAM.- In ever-loving memory of dear Richard, killed in action, July 28. !944. A smiling face, a heart of gold, Memories of you will never grow old.- Always remembered by Olive and all at 27. The reference to 27, is 27 Bassett Street, Walsall, where his wife Olive lived with her parents.
L.M.S letter sent to Richard's widow Olive.	We can see in the newspaper article it is mentioned that Richard worked for the London Midland Scottish [L.M.S.] Railway Company, at their Goods Department at Darlaston. We have a letter that L.M.S. sent to Ricards widow Olive. Notice it was sent from their head office [the Chairman's room] at Euston Station, London. As frequently happens with Steathams, the Steatham surname is spelt Streatham being confused with the well-known London borough.
Lord Royden.	The importance of the letter from L.M.S. is clearly indicated, in that the letter is signed by no other than Lord Royden [1871-1950] the then chairman of L.M.S. himself. The London Midland and Scottish Railway, also known as the LMS, was founded on 1 January 1923... ...The London termini of the LMS were St. Pancras and Euston stations and it had works at Crewe, Horwich, Wolverton and Derby amongst other locations. In 1934 the LMS moved into a new headquarters at Euston House on Seymour Street (later renamed Eversholt Street) in London. Click these links to see more information about L.M.S. Science Museum Group - London Midland & Scottish Railway Co. Wikipedia - London Midland Scottish Railway. London Midland Scottish Railway Society. Lord Royden [1871-1950].
Richard Samuel's Grave with his initial grave marker. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	Richard is the only Steatham recorded as being killed while serving in the armed forces. His army number was 14376672, 5th Batt South Staffs Regiment, and he his buried at Fontenay-Le-Pesnel, Tessel, France. - Grave Number III B 13. Location: The village of Fontenay-le-Pesnel lies 16 kilometers west of Caen on the main road (the D9) towards Caumont l'Evente. The cemetery is 1 kilometer south-east of the hamlet of St Martin (on the D139 to Grainville); on reaching a large memorial to the 49th (West Riding) Division, turn down the track opposite the memorial which leads directly to the cemetery. There are particularly large numbers of graves of the South Staffordshire, East Lancashire, Royal Warwickshire Regiments, and the Durham Light Infantry. The cemetery contains 460 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. There are also fifty-nine German graves which are largely soldiers from the 12th SS Panzer Division.
Cemetery Plan & Aerial View.	There was some speculation that Richard's burial - shown with his initial grave marker - may have been somewhere else and not at Fontenay-le-Pesnel, where he is now. This has been suggested because in the initial grave registration sent on the 4th January 1945 to his wife Olive stated that he was buried in Rauray British War Cemetery. Rauray is the next village south east of the cemetery. We can see in the background on the right the grave marker for a Donald Green. The positions of these graves are exactly the same that are now at Fontenay-le-Pesnel. Richard is at III B 13 [red dot] and Donald Green [green dot] is at II C 14, basically the row behind and one to the right. So we can say that Richard was not moved to Fontenay-le-Pesnel from somewhere else.
Richard's scroll & reproduction.	In both World Wars a commerative scroll was issued to the relatives of those killed. I have a photostat of Richard's actual scroll but not the original. I have had a modern reproduction replacement scroll printed - it is basically the same with minor slight differences of text size and line spacing. On the left we can see them both - click the images to enlarge.
Richard Samuel's Grave as it looks now. Copyright 2010 - Nigel James Wright.	Historical Information: The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6th June 1944. Fontenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery contains the graves of men who died in the fighting to the west and south-west of Caen in June-July 1944. Richard's grave marker was replaced and he now has the standard CWGC headstone. There was another Steatham who served in the 1914-18 War, but his name was recorded incorrectly as Streatham in the CWGC records, but this now been corrected. George Steatham (1885-1917) George Steatham, born 1885, died in 1917. He is the only Steatham to have died while on World War I service. Also, he is the only Steatham to have is name mis-spelt (Streatham) on his gravestone! Read on how I contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to get this mistake corrected.
Richard's commemorative display in the chapel. Copyright 2022 - Nigel James Wright.	Anniversary of Richard's death - 2022 - Stanbrook Abbey. On the seventy-eight year of the anniversary of his death we planned to re-visit his grave in Normandy, most likely for the last time. Events arising due to covid prevented our journey, so we opted to stay at the Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, Worchester, which has incorporated into it a chapel, and commemorate his death there on Thursday the 28th July 2022.
Richard in the church. Copyright 2023 - Nigel James Wright.	Anniversary of Richard's death - 2023 - Iglesia de Nuestra Se ora de la Pe a de Francia. On the seventy-ninth year of the anniversary of his death we were staying at the hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain. We commemorated his death at the Iglesia de Nuestra Se ora de la Pe a de Francia [Pl. de la Iglesia, s/n, 38400] on Friday the 28th July 2023. On entering we went to the small chapel on the south side of the church. Serendipitously during our visit, a funeral began, which we stayed for, and which we found quite poignant. As we left, the Church was swiftly closed and locked, it now became apparent that the church had only been opened for the late Enrico's funeral! Both the day of his death 28th July 1944 and the 28th July 2023 co-incidentally fall on a Friday! The next occurrence for this will be in 2028!
Richard in the church. Copyright 2023 - Nigel James Wright.	Anniversary of Richard's death - 2023 - Iglesia de San Francisco. We also commemorated his death again on Friday the 28th July 2023 at the Iglesia de San Francisco, located just off the central (and famed) Plaza Charco. The church is tacked on to tiny Ermita de San Juan, the oldest structure in town which was built between 1599 and 1608 by the artist Juan de Texera. Steatham.com All Rights Reserved.