At the age of 14 he was given a 'poormans' apprenticeship by the Baydon
Trust.
This was as a result of his father dying when he was only10, leaving
his mother almost penniless. He was ashamed of his 'poormans'
apprentiship. Dick made numerous small items of furniture for his home,
mostly from English oak. His employment was mainly at the Harris bacon
factory, where he was a carpenter, and he also occasionally dressed the
mill stones for the mill in Mill lane - near Doctors Pond.
He also helped construct the Calne fire engine, of which there is a
picture hanging in the Wiltshire County Fire HQ at Potterne.
A keen gardener, renting an allotment in The Pippin, he grew all the
vegetables for his family and enjoyed carnations. There were always fresh
flowers (usually carnations) on his dining table.
He enjoyed a pint at the Liberal club, and went every night from 7-9pm.
He also enjoyed taking snuff, and had numerous small wooden snuff boxes.
His house at Oxford Rd was rented from the Westons in The Pippin.
He kept chickens, for occasional meat & eggs.
He was born in 10 Mill Lane Streatham London, which I presume to be his
mothers parents place, as she is recorded as living there when she got
married.

During the 1st world war he was in the navy, as a stoker. A job he did
not enjoy and which made him rather anti-establishment.
He was an excellent artist and would entertain his grand children by
drawing sketches of thatched cottages with small ponds, ducks and other
country animals.
When his son asked him how he felt about his father dying when he was so
young, he said "How the bloody hell would you feel if your father died
when you were 10!"

10 Mill Lane Streatham

Richard J

Caswell
Information:
Medal Entitlement issued to the man directly.
Rank:
Stoker 2nd Class
Service Number:
K.52861
Campaign Medals:
British War Medal

Richard J Caswell was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.


 
Victory Medal

Richard J Caswell was entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.


 
British War Medal

Richard J Caswell was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.


Service:
Royal Navy
Archive Reference:
ADM 171/98
Collections:
Roll of Naval War Medals 1914-1920

Royal Navy Medals 1914-1919


In the photo of the Calne Fire Engine, Dick is top row, second from the left, above CFB on the ladder.

Dick Caswell joined the Brigade in 1926 and was still serving in 1942.
He was made leading Fireman in January 1942.