Sergeant Richard C Wynn
20955, 12th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment
Born in 1892, and living in the shadow of Goodison Park, by his late teens Richard Wynn was working in a local rubber works while playing centre-forward for Sterling FC in Liverpool & District League 1910-11 season. He signed amateur forms for Everton for the 1911-12 season and played as an outside-left, and although he was retained for a further year, by June 1912 he was loaned to Chester, where he joined his brother Robert in the same team. Officially released by Everton in April 1913, he was quickly rated as the best half-back in the Lancashire Combination, and was snapped up by Middlesbrough in April 1914, scoring on his debut against Spurs.
By the summer of 1915 he had volunteered for the 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Teesside Pioneers), while brother Robert enlisted with the Grenadier Guards. Robert later secured a transfer to the 12th Yorks on 11 May 1915 to be with his brother. After a year in training they landed in France in June 1916. During his periods of leave Richard had time to make 22 guest appearances for Brentford scoring eight goals. While Robert was discharged home on 23 Feb 1919, Richard, now a sergeant, was transferred to the 17th Company Labour Corps and remained in France during post-war clear up work. Although he survived the conflict and was due to return to Middlesbrough for the 1919-20 season he died on 9 August 1919 aged twenty-seven from injuries suffered in an accident while still serving in France. He was laid to rest in Etaples Military Lance Corporal Wilfred Toman Cemetery.