William Joshua M Richards

Vital Information

Born

1902-05-07, Lambeth, London, England

Died

1988-09, Greenwich, London, England

Age at Death

86

Residence

Lambeth, London (birth); Woolwich/Southwark, London (1930s); Sturminster, Dorset (1940s); Greenwich, London (death 1988)

Notes

Beryl's father. Full name William Joshua M Richards (third given name initial M, full name unknown). Born 7 May 1902, registered Q2 1902 in Lambeth, London (Vol 1D, p 331). Married Violet Dorothy Sacre Q1 1930 in Lambeth. Died September 1988, Greenwich, London. Family lived in south London (Woolwich, Camberwell, Southwark) during the 1930s, then relocated to Sturminster, Dorset ~1940-42 (possibly WWII-related). At least 8 children born 1931-1950. Family may have returned to London area after the war (youngest child Janet born London 1950). Died in Greenwich, suggesting he lived in south London in later life. Henry Richards (d. 1954) and Gertrude Richards (d. 1978) buried in Sturminster Newton Cemetery — possibly William's parents or relatives who remained in Dorset. Parents identified: William Richards (ID 183, b. ~1865, Lambeth, carman) and Sarah Richards (ID 184, b. ~1865, Lambeth). Identification based on 1911 census showing a 'William Richards, Son, M, 9, born Lambeth' in household of William and Sarah Richards in Lambeth — matching the only William Richards born Q2 1902 in Lambeth (William Joshua M). 1901 census of same household shows older brother Henry Richards (age 11), who later settled in Sturminster Newton, Dorset (d. 1954, FindAGrave #192271800). Henry's presence in Dorset likely drew William's family to evacuate there from London during WWII (~1940-1942).

Sources

England and Wales Birth Registration Index 1837-2008, Q2 1902, Lambeth, Vol 1D, p 331 (FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:2F8Z-NT9); England and Wales Marriage Registration Index 1837-2005, Q1 1930, Lambeth, Vol 1D, p 394 (FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:QV8S-CPVZ); England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007, Sep 1988, Greenwich, London, birth 7 May 1902 (FamilySearch); Family knowledge (Kevin Frank, 2026-03-29); 1901 Census of father's household (Source 213, ark:/61903/1:1:X9H6-B2B); 1911 Census — William Richards age 9 in household of William and Sarah Richards, Lambeth (Source 214, ark:/61903/1:1:XWP1-G55)

Research Leads

• ☐ Henry Richards (d. 1954) and Gertrude Richards (d. 1978) in Sturminster Newton Cemetery — possible parents or relatives
• ☐ Search 1939 Register for Richards household in Sturminster or London
• ☐ Search FindAGrave for William Joshua M Richards in Greenwich/south London area
• ☐ Confirm identification: the 1911 census 'William Richards' age 9 in Lambeth is the same person as William Joshua M Richards (birth reg Q2 1902, Lambeth, Vol 1D, p 331) — only one William Richards born Lambeth 1902 in the GRO index matches this census household; the other (William George Richards) appears in a different 1911 household in Camberwell with different parents.