Born in 1894 at Woodford, son of Richard George (General Labourer) and Florence Sarah Tyler. 1901: With his family at 1 Bealings Cottages, Globe Road, Woodford Green. 1911: A Grocers Assistant with his family at 36 Globe Road, Woodford Green.
He was serving on the Somme with 8 Bedfordshire Regiment when they were ordered to take the Quadrilateral on 15th September 1916 as part of the Battle of Flers Courcelette. Their war diary reproduced in Bedford Regiment Website states:-
“Battn was in a position for attack about 4.30 a.m. ZERO hour 6.20 a.m. Three waves were supplied by D, D [sic] and A Coys under Capt Hatch, 2/Lt Hodges and Lt Draisey respectively to attack the QUADRILATERAL, which was on our left flank, whilst B Coy co-operated by bombing down trench leading to it. At 6.0 a.m. heavy artillery opened slow barrage on Line MORVAL - LES BOEUFS. At ZERO hour (6.20 a.m.) intense artillery barrage opened and unluckily was cut short where our 3 companies were drawn up for the attack in shell holes. This mistake caused many casualties. Our attacking companies pushed forward and though supported by 1/The Buffs and later re-enforced by the 2/York & Lancaster Regt failed to take the position. "TANKS" did not arrive to assist and the position was not heavily shelled previous to the attack. Brigade ordered original trenches to be held and await orders. As battalion had suffered very severely in casualties, 6 Officers killed and 7 wounded we were relieved by 2/Y & L at 6.0.p.m. and put in brigade reserve in trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT.”
Richard Tyler was among those Killed in Action during this engagement. He was not recovered, and so is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com