Richard's Story.
Richard was the son of Mr & Mrs J.W.G Bloor, and one was of 5 children, he had 2 sisters, Ivy and Alice, and 2 brothers John and Harold. He was a choirboy at Weston Point Church and after finishing school worked at the Salt Union Weston Point as a chemist.
He was one of 13 local footballers who volunteered at the outbreak of the work.
He enlisted in November 1914 at Wrexham, before getting a train to France in April 1915, were he received a shrapnel wound in his thigh on 25th September during the Battle of Loos, and was sent back to England.
His mother then received a letter stating that he was well and hoping to be home soon. However, shortly afterwards a wire came from the hospital stating he was dangerously ill, and he died before his mother could get to London.
It is stated in the Runcorn cemetery burial records that he died in Folkestone, but in the letter to his mum it states he died in London.
Richard was buried on Sunday 10th October at Runcorn Cemetery with full military honours, in section 12 grave 1034.
The cortege attracted considerable attention as it wended its way to the cemetery. The escort and firing party were commanded by Sergeant Major O’Malley and consisted of a detachment of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
His father , John William Gibson Bloor, a foreman at Salt Union, died shortly after Richard at the age of 43, and was buried 16 days after him.
In the family grave, his sister Alice (10) and brother John (7) are also laid to rest. One of his other brothers Harold died in 1957 aged 49. His mother Mary Jane died in 1954 aged 83.