Staff Sergeant Richard Angus Webster Royal Army Medical Corps
The Man Richard Angus Webster was Born 16th June 1902 at 1630h at Whyte’s Land, Kirkhill, Cambusland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of Richard senior a Coal Miner and Catherine nee Cameron. His religion was Presbyterian.
Following school Richard became an Electric Cable Jointer and joined the St Andrew’s Ambulance Corps in about 1923. At around the same time aged 21, he enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Army Medical Corps with service number 3049620.
On 6th March 1925 he married Robina Clark Wilson - formerly Harding, a domestic servant at the Regent Street, United Free Church, Portobello, Edinburgh.
Richard attended a course of instruction in Ambulance Work and First Aid to the Injured on 26th January 1927, followed by Elementary Principles of Home Nursing and Hygiene in April 1928. He was appointed to the rank of Commandant in St Andrews on 7th February 1929 in the Edinburgh Thistle Section, Assistant Commandant on 26th April 1933 and Commandant again on 1st April 1937
In the TA he was promoted to Sergeant and in Army Order 39 of 1936 awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ for 12 years’ service. He was discharged from the TA on 20th June 1938 and at the time lived at 6a Elbe Street, Leith, Edinburgh.
By 1938 Richard was living at Hillfoot House, Greenside Lane, Edinburgh and in February 1938 joined the Air Raid Precautions in Edinburgh, clearly still performing his St Andrew’s duties as he attended an instructors course in First Aid in April and in January 1939 a course of instruction in Ambulance work. He also worked at the City of Edinburgh Public Health Department as a First Aid Trainer, a position he had to relinquish in November following the advent of World War II as he was re-called and re-mustered into the RAMC on 7th November 1939 as a Nursing Orderly with his previous service number 3049620.
Following school Richard became an Electric Cable Jointer and joined the St Andrew’s Ambulance Corps in about 1923. At around the same time aged 21, he enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Army Medical Corps with service number 3049620.
On 6th March 1925 he married Robina Clark Wilson - formerly Harding, a domestic servant at the Regent Street, United Free Church, Portobello, Edinburgh.
Richard attended a course of instruction in Ambulance Work and First Aid to the Injured on 26th January 1927, followed by Elementary Principles of Home Nursing and Hygiene in April 1928. He was appointed to the rank of Commandant in St Andrews on 7th February 1929 in the Edinburgh Thistle Section, Assistant Commandant on 26th April 1933 and Commandant again on 1st April 1937
In the TA he was promoted to Sergeant and in Army Order 39 of 1936 awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ for 12 years’ service. He was discharged from the TA on 20th June 1938 and at the time lived at 6a Elbe Street, Leith, Edinburgh.
By 1938 Richard was living at Hillfoot House, Greenside Lane, Edinburgh and in February 1938 joined the Air Raid Precautions in Edinburgh, clearly still performing his St Andrew’s duties as he attended an instructors course in First Aid in April and in January 1939 a course of instruction in Ambulance work. He also worked at the City of Edinburgh Public Health Department as a First Aid Trainer, a position he had to relinquish in November following the advent of World War II as he was re-called and re-mustered into the RAMC on 7th November 1939 as a Nursing Orderly with his previous service number 3049620.
Upon re-enlistment Richard was described as 5’5.” Tall, weighing 176lbs, a 41” chest with hazel eyes and grey hair. By 1942 he was promoted to Sergeant, then Staff Sergeant, serving at home for the duration of the war.
At some point Richard divorced Robina and on 11th January 1944 aged 41 re-married to Anne McKenny, a Grocer’s Assistant, at the Register Office in Kent. At the time he was living at Comely Bank Row, Edinburgh and Anne at 27 John Street, Tunbridge Wells. Richard was discharged from the RAMC on 29th September 1944 as ceasing to fulfil army physical requirements Para 390 (xvi) KRs 1940. His service was given as Exemplary. He was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Initially Richard and Anne lived at 6A Elbe Street, Leith, Edinburgh, but moved south to Surrey where he became a general gardener and handyman, working at various locations. October 1946 to 2nd May 1952 for Engineer A N Drudel at Green Acres, Abbotswood Guildford and living at 12, Fieldway, Haselmere, followed by Uplands Lodge, Park Lane, Brook, Godalming.
By 1949 Richard and Vera lived at 4 Meadow Vale, Haselmere and in 1950, 8 Rupert Street and 70 Crathorne Avenue in Wolverhampton, then back to Haselmere at 50 Lion Lane and 83 Lion Lane in 1951. He also at some time resided at 16B Bishopwood Road, Highgate.
Between March 1956 - September 1953 Richard was still gardening now at Hunter’s Croft, Grayswood, Haselmere, then from 30th January – 12th December at The Gardens, Murdostoun Castle, Newmains, Lancashre for Captain J C Stewart. Finally as a tenant gardener from 25th March 1958-October 1959 back to Surrey working at Godstone Place Godstone, for Major Guy Egerton. .
By 1967 Richard and Vera lived at the Manor Cottage, Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire and Richard passed away in the final quarter of 1979 aged 77.
At some point Richard divorced Robina and on 11th January 1944 aged 41 re-married to Anne McKenny, a Grocer’s Assistant, at the Register Office in Kent. At the time he was living at Comely Bank Row, Edinburgh and Anne at 27 John Street, Tunbridge Wells. Richard was discharged from the RAMC on 29th September 1944 as ceasing to fulfil army physical requirements Para 390 (xvi) KRs 1940. His service was given as Exemplary. He was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Initially Richard and Anne lived at 6A Elbe Street, Leith, Edinburgh, but moved south to Surrey where he became a general gardener and handyman, working at various locations. October 1946 to 2nd May 1952 for Engineer A N Drudel at Green Acres, Abbotswood Guildford and living at 12, Fieldway, Haselmere, followed by Uplands Lodge, Park Lane, Brook, Godalming.
By 1949 Richard and Vera lived at 4 Meadow Vale, Haselmere and in 1950, 8 Rupert Street and 70 Crathorne Avenue in Wolverhampton, then back to Haselmere at 50 Lion Lane and 83 Lion Lane in 1951. He also at some time resided at 16B Bishopwood Road, Highgate.
Between March 1956 - September 1953 Richard was still gardening now at Hunter’s Croft, Grayswood, Haselmere, then from 30th January – 12th December at The Gardens, Murdostoun Castle, Newmains, Lancashre for Captain J C Stewart. Finally as a tenant gardener from 25th March 1958-October 1959 back to Surrey working at Godstone Place Godstone, for Major Guy Egerton. .
By 1967 Richard and Vera lived at the Manor Cottage, Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire and Richard passed away in the final quarter of 1979 aged 77.
The Story The medal group awarded to Richard Angus Webster were acquired on 20th December 2021on a buy it now basis, having been watched for some time. They were of interest because of the amount of paperwork and photographs with the group, together with the more unusual combination of the Defence and War Medal 1939-45 with the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ George V bust, indicating service long before WWII.
The papers and letters with the medals, together with Ancestry.UK and Scotland’s people enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
With the group came a separate mounted for wear War Medal 1939-45, which it was claimed belonged to his wife. As Richard was married twice and his first wife a Domestic Servant who died in 1940, and his second, a Grocer’s Assistant it is unlikely to be theirs, although not impossible. It therefore will remain with the group but without any provenance until a definitive link can be found.
The papers and letters with the medals, together with Ancestry.UK and Scotland’s people enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
With the group came a separate mounted for wear War Medal 1939-45, which it was claimed belonged to his wife. As Richard was married twice and his first wife a Domestic Servant who died in 1940, and his second, a Grocer’s Assistant it is unlikely to be theirs, although not impossible. It therefore will remain with the group but without any provenance until a definitive link can be found.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamded as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 3049620 PTE. R.A.WEBSTER. R.A.M.C.
This page last updated 14 May 22
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