Richard Inger Mozley was born on May 10th 1898 to Albert Henry and Laura Mozley of 17a Woodborough Road, Nottingham. He attended The Nottingham High School and was a member of the Officers Training Corps (OTC). In June 1914 he passed the London University Matriculation examination (First Division). As a Sergeant in the OTC he was recommended by his Commanding Officer Capt. G. F. Hood and supported by his headmaster Mr. G. S. Turpin D.Sc., M.A. for a commission in the Army. He had applied himself to the O.C. of the 3rd Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters but was informed that they had already exceeded their normal complement of Officers by 50%. So he was now trying the Special Reserve as an infantry Officer.
He was accepted into the 3rd Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment attached to the 36th Battalion MGC. He embarked Folkestone 15.5.17 and disembarked Boulogne the same day. On 26.5.17 he was instructed to join 10th Company and did so on the 1.6.17. On 20.7.17 he went on a weeks A.A. Course in the field and returned on the 27.7.17. He then went on leave from the 25.7.17 to the 27.7.17 and returned to his battalion. On the 21st March 1918 he was on duty in the forward trenches in the area of S. Quentin at the time of the German Spring Offensive.
The 36th Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps was formed on the 1st March 1918 from the 107/108/109 and 266 MG Companies. Lt. Mozley was serving with them in the XVIII Division of the 5th Army on the 21st March with the 12th and 15th Royal Irish Rifles and the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when Operation Michael began. They were holding the Forward Zone and were very quickly overwhelmed and virtually completely lost. For more information on this battle go to http://www.1914-1918.net Battles of the Somme 1918.
When his parents were enquiring about their son this is the text of a letter that they received.
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Letter from Sgt Crenston 17748 now 29th Battalion M.G.C. in France: "When Lt. Mozley came back to the Coy. In Dec. last, he took charge of "A" Section and I being the section Sgt. Was nearly always with Mr. Mozley and when in the line that terrible morning 21st March Mr. Mozley, myself and about 19 others were in the same position and dugout, the most forward position of the Division, 4 guns with us; at about 4:30 the barrage started we were being pounded most cruel with gas and high explosive shells but we stuck it till about 9 when your son was hit ...... a piece of shell penetrated Mr. Mozley's right breast ...... I helped to bandage your son and asked him to get down to the dressing station a short distance away (it was a nasty wound and it would have got him home) but no, he refused to go, saying I will see it through Sergeant." "Now this splendid spirit and example inspired us all and setting our teeth we all determined to stand by to the end ...... The first indication we got of the German approach was a death scream from one of the boys and after that my memory is nearly a blank for we all seemed to work by machinery, Mr. Mozley and self took up positions with revolvers and did our best, we were however surrounded by the Germans, a bomb or shell burst amongst us and I found myself with a wound in the back feeling dizzy". "Now as to what happened to your son I cannot say". |
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 68 on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.
Lt. Richard Inger Mozley
War and Victory medals
Memorial Plaque
York and Lancaster badges.
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