Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

Richard Bernard Chinnery (1841 - 1923)


Richard Chinnery was a soldier in the British Army, serving with the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and 1st Battalion Royal Scots. In an *interview in 1915 he claims to have served in the Crimean war and could have been a 13-year-old drummer boy. He also served in India. After his army career he became a member of the Corps of Commissionaires.


He was born in 1841 in Cork, Ireland the son of James Chinnery. It is not known when he joined the army, but his Regiment (62nd) saw action in the Crimean War (1854 – 56) at the Siege of Sevastopol and the Assault on the Redan Bastion. In 1857, they were sent to Canada and returned to the UK in 1864. In 1865 they went to Ireland and from 1868 to 1879 they were stationed in India.


The earliest transcript for Richard is in 1871 in Lucknow, India, where he was with the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment and his rank was Drummer, Fifer or Bugler. On 13th February 1871, 30-year-old Richard married 20-year-old Bridget Cummins in Lucknow. She was born in Waterford, Ireland and was the daughter of John Cummins.


In 1881, Richard and Bridget lived at 151, West Park Street, Salford and Richard's occupation was Pensioner. They had four children: William (b.1870 in India), James (b.1872 in India), Arabella (b.1857 in East Indies) and Richard (b.1880 in Manchester). In 1883 they had another son Frederick, but he sadly died a year later in 1884.


 In 1891, at Enbridge Street, Salford, Richard's occupation was a Commissionaire. Additional children were: Robert (b.1882 in Salford), Mary (b.1886 in Lower Broughton) and Florence (b.1888 in Lower Broughton). However in 1900, 28-year-old James, who had joined the army was killed at Spion Kop in South Africa. In 1901 the family lived at 36, West Clowes Street, Salford and 59-year-old Richard was a Commissionaire Timekeeper. In 1905, Richard's wife Bridget died aged 54.


In 1911, the family lived at 56 West Ashton Street, Salford. Richard was a 70-year-old Pensioner, Robert was a Reserve Man Army, Alfred was a Junior Clerk, Mary was House Keeper to Father and Florence was a Bookkeeper.


*On the 9th of November 1915, a Manchester Evening News article read, "Oldest Commissionaire's Proud Family Record," and continued: "It is interesting to record in connection with the career of Mr Richard Chinnery of West Ashton Street, Salford, who is the oldest member of the Corps of Commissionaires, that he has at present, four sons serving with the Army, three of whom are at the front. A fifth son was killed at Spion Kop in the South African War. Mr Chinnery informs us that he served both in the Crimea and during the Indian Mutiny whilst he was attached to the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and completed his service with the 1st Battalion Royal Scots on his return to England."


Richard Bernard Chinnery died in August 1923 aged 82. He was buried on 18th August in the Roman Catholic portion of Weaste Cemetery, in grave A9 3409.