The 1911 census places Richard aged 20, a rural postman,  in Chester Street Mold living with his parents and siblings. His father John David Oats was a hairdresser aged 50 (born in the Isle of Man). His wife was Ann, a Mold woman. The eldest child was Charlotte 28 yrs, Leonard was 26 (also a postman) Margaret was 17 and Dennis 16. The form tells us that Ann Oats had given birth to 11children but only 9 had survived.

Richard enlisted in Wrexham and he entered his first theatre of war on the 23rd November 1914. This was France/Flanders. He died of his wounds 2 months later

County Herald 19th February 1915