Richard Charles John Paice was born in Kingsclere, Hampshire, England on 4 January 1880.

He was the son of George Paice (b. 1854), a police constable, and Lucy Elizabeth Spearing (1843-1933). Both his parents hailed from Bishops Waltham in Hampshire and had married in 1879, going on to have five children: Frederick R. (b. 1877), Richard (b. 1880), Rosalind Lucy (b. 1884), Edith Sarah (b. 1887) and Louise Marguerite (b. 1888).

Richard first appears on the 1881 census and at the time he and his family were living at Back Lane, Herriard, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. His father apparently left his duties as a Police Officer and went to sea as a fireman, being absent from the 1891 census when his family were resident at Spring Road in Sholing, Southampton. The family later moved to 3 Drummond Road, Southampton and would be listed here on the 1901 census. Richard is absent and perhaps already at sea.

Richard was married in St John the Evangelist Church, Lambeth, London on Christmas Day 1901 to Louisa Sarah Luker, (b. 1879 in Stepney, London, daughter of Charles and Emma Luker) and he was described as a labourer at the time. The couple would have no children.

On the 1911 census Richard is absent from home and perhaps at sea but his wife is living at 30 Houndwell Gardens, All Saints, Southampton.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Richard gave his address as 30 Houndwell Gardens, (Southampton). His previous ship had been the Oceanic and as a fireman he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6.

Richard Paice died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow Louisa was remarried the following year to Harry Bratcher (1885-1924) and had one son, also named Harry, shortly after. She remained in Southampton where she died in 1923 aged 43.