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237253
Aircrfm. 1st Cl. William George Richardson
Royal Air Force
from:Islington
(d.5th July 1941)
William Richardson was an Aircraftman First Class. He was a passenger aboard the SS Anselm which was sunk on 5th of July 1941 by a German U-boat. He went down with the ship. He was my grandma's, Elsie Doris Barclay, twin brother and his death affected her deeply for the rest of her life. My grandma was pregnant with my mother, Pamela, at the time of Billy's death and this news was deliberately withheld from her as they feared the shock could have caused a miscarriage.
Billy lied about his age so he could enlist, he was not 19 years old. He did it out of a sense of honour. His brother Leonard had, in effect, deserted the army while training in England. This was a great source of shame for Billy and he felt he had to restore the honour of the family.
I was at my grandma's bedside when she died in 2010 and in her last moments she called out Billy's name. She lived a full and rich life and I miss her so much but I know she is at peace and Billy is by her side.