Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

FOOTER Richard Martin 2319 PTE
37th Battalion
1897-1973

Richard Martin Footer’s grandfather died in 1863 at Rackheath, Norfolk, England. His surname was listed as ‘Futter’. When younger members of his family migrated to Australia they may not have been literate and simply stated their name which, allowing for the North of England pronunciation would have sounded like ‘Footter’. So for those family members who were literate, ‘Footter’ became the spelling of their name. Richard, for whatever reason, used only one ‘t’.           

                     Children of John Footter and Susan Bennett Pascoe
                      William John (Jack) Footter 1886-1918
                     Laura Sarah Footter 1888-1888
                     Susan Maud Footter 1889-1964
                     Harriett Footter 1891-1967
                     Elizabeth Mary Footter 1893-1979
                     Sarah Footter 1895-1985
                     Richard Martin Footer 1897-1973
                     Joseph Footter 1899-1994
                     James Footter 1901-1979

He was the younger brother of William John (known as John) who had enlisted a year earlier. When John went off to war in July 1915 Richard was left as the eldest son to run the farm as his father had died just prior to John’s departure.   He was only 18 years and eight months when he enlisted on 4 October 1916, necessitating his mother’s consent.   He embarked two weeks later as part of 37th Battalion, 4th reinforcements aboard HMAT Port Lincoln.  They stopped at Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa in time for Christmas after which they pressed on to Plymouth, arriving during January.  

Late in March 1916, after training in England for two months he proceeded overseas to France.  In June the 37th Battalion was engaged in its first major battle at Messines in Belgium.

On 2 February 1918 he took three weeks leave in England, returning to his unit at Wisques in northern France. He was admitted to hospital suffering from influenza, re-joining his unit in April. Six months later he was transferred to the 38th Battalion where he remained until he returned to Australia aboard HMAT Sudan, arriving on 12 May 1919.

After discharge he returned to the farm at Boho and remained there until his death in 1973 at the age of 76. He remained single.

Service medals:     British War Medal     Victory Medal

Tree No 26 was planted in 1917 by T Croxford

In 2013 a Ceratonia siliqua - Carob Tree - was planted by family members Joan McDonald and her cousin Kirby Aldridge.

© Sheila Burnell, December 2015