R B Findon (1888 - 1916)

Richard Findon was born in Hereford in 1888. He was the son of Richard Butt Findon and his wife Sarah Ann, who later lived at the grocers shop which they ran at 38 Whitburn Street, Bridgnorth.

Richard was educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School. By 1911 his family had moved to Handsworth and Richard was working as a draper's assistant.

Richard served with the 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He went to France with the battalion on 21st November 1915. He was killed in action on 23rd July, 1916 on which day his division was involved in the Attacks at High Wood, a phase of the 1916 Somme campaign. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Sergeant Findon, No.233, 14th RWR, was awarded the Victory and British medals and the 1915 Star. His younger brother Frank Leonard Findon was also killed during the Battle of the Somme.

AN OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOY KILLED
[Bridgnorth Journal 26th August, 1916]
Another brave life has been lost in the death in action on July 22 of Sergeant Richard Findon, of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The sad information was conveyed to his wife, who lives at 30 Cromer Road, Moseley, and Capt. Richmond, writing to her, says:— "Sergeant Findon has always been a most capable non-commissioned officer, and I shall miss him tremendously from the ranks. I trust you will accept my deepest sympathy. He died gallantly leading his platoon in an attack, against the German lines." We are informed that he had been wounded three days previously but he was not incapacitated from duty. Sergeant Findon was the third son of Mr and Mrs. R. B. Findon, of Holyhead Road. Handsworth, formerly of Bridgnorth, and was educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School. He was a very popular member of the firm with which he was connected in civil life, and played for the cricket team connected with it. On the outbreak of war he joined one of the city battalions, and he has a brother in the Warwickshire Regiment. Sergeant Findon was 28 years of age, and was married abont twelve months ago. He was home on leave last May.

OLD BOY NOTES
[Bridgnorth Grammar School Magazine, December 1916]
There is a heavy list of Casualties among our Old Boys this term. Five more names have to be added to the ever-lengthening list of those who have fallen on the Field of Battle: Pte. T. H. Robins, Pte. F. Head, 2nd Lieut. A. E. Boucher, Sgt. R. B. Findon, Pte. H. Walker. They have made the supreme sacrifice and are at rest, but we shall not forget, and their names will live in our annals as long as there is a Bridgnorth Grammar School.

OBITUARY
[Bridgnorth Grammar School Magazine, December 1916]
Another brave life has been lost by the death in action on July 22nd of Sergt. Richard B. Findon of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. His Captain in writing of his death speaks most highly of him: "He has alway been a most capable non-commissioned officer and I shall miss him tremendously from the ranks." Later in the same letter: "He died gallantly leading his platoon in an attack against the German lines." It appears he was wounded three days previously, but was not incapacitated from duty.
The sad news given above will come as a great shock to many an Old Boy who will remember the "Dick Findon" of his school-days, Dick the light-hearted, a "Sport" with an infinite capacity for getting into scrapes, irrepressible, not to be depressed by temporary untoward circumstances. His was a bright spirit and it is difficult to realise that the light which shone so clear has now been withdrawn. The School mourns for him and tenders sincere sympathy to his hearest and dearest in their great loss.