R B Hinckesman (1886 - 1915)

Richard Boycott Hinckesman was born in Astley Abbotts in 1886. He was the son of Thomas Boycott Hincksman and his wife, Georgina and the cousin of John William Hinckesman.

In 1901 Richard (aged 14) was living with his widowed mother and his two brothers at 12 Victoria Road, Bridgnorth. He was a pupil at Bridgnorth Grammar School.

By 1911 he had moved to Northampton where he was working as a secondary schoolmaster. In 1913 he travelled to Canada - where he taught at Upper Canada College, Toronto - but he returned to England the next year, shortly before war was declared.

Richard served with the Household Cavalry in the 1st King Edward's Horse. He went to France with his unit on 22nd April, 1915, but he died (probably from illness rather than wounds) a few months later on 20th October. He is buried at Louvencourt Military Cemetery which suggests that he died at one of the field ambulances there.

Lance Corporal Hinckesman, 497, was awarded the Victory and British medals.

His obitury in the Warbook of Upper Canada College, Toronto [1923] reads:

HINCKESMAN, RICHARD BOYCOTT;
Asst. Master in the Prep. School., '13-'14; E. Bridgenorth Grammar and Ashby Schools, England, and Christ Church, Oxford; B.A., Oxford; M.A., Oxford; Master at Northampton Grammar Sch. for five years. "B" squadron, King Edward's Horse, 48th Div., B.E.F., L.-Cpl.: killed in action in France, October 20, 1915. [Thanks to Jill Spellman, Archivist, Upper Canada College, for this reference.]