Richard (known in later life as Archie or Dick) was the son of Frederick Hill & Laura Male.

Fredeick was a chain maker in Cradley, Worcestershire, before being recalled to the Worcestershire Regiment (he was a reservist - signing up for six years in 1908) at the outbreak of war in August 1914.

He had married Laura Ethel E Male in Christ Church, Lye, Staafordshire earlier that year.

By the time of his call to arms, Frederick was a father-to-be.

In September, Richard was born.

It is not known if Frederick ever saw his infant son - by the end of 1914 he was in Northern France.

His war was to be a short one.

On the second day of the Battle of Festubert (16th May, 1915), Frederick Hill was killed in action.

He is buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France.

Laura then took the decision to leave England with Richard - they were to live with Laura's Parents (Richard and Emma) who had emigrated to America just before the war began.

Richard and Laura would live with the Males until the 1920s, when Laura remarried (to Leslie Throssell).

Richard Hill