Regimental number | 1964A |
Place of birth | Caverside, Tasmania |
School | Wilmot State School, Tasmania |
Religion | Methodist |
Occupation | Farmer |
Address | Sheffield, Tasmania |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 21 |
Next of kin | Father, John Richards, Wilmot, Tasmania |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 40th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/57/2 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Hobart, Tasmania, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 40th Battalion |
Fate | Died of wounds |
Place of death or wounding | Hamel, France |
Age at death | 23 |
Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
Place of burial | Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Plot XII, Row E, Grave No. 8), Fouilloy, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 133 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Jane RICHARDS |
Medals |
Military Medal 'South of VILLE SUR ANCRE on night 18th/19th April, 1918, for his gallant conduct in an attack on a hostile patrol 800 yards from our lines. Our patrol intended to attack an enemy post containing about a dozen of the enemy. An enemy patrol of 9 men, however, moved out from this post and took up a position in shell holes between our patrol and our front line. The patrol leader ordered an attack on the enemy patrol. Corporal RICHARDS shot one of the enemy who ordered him to surrender, and wounded others. he displayed great dash and determination and under heavy machine gun fire assisted in carrying back to our lines one of the enemy dead, from whom identifications urgently required were obtained.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185 Date: |
Family/military connections | Cousin: 730 Lance Corporal George Frederick RICHARDS, 40th Bn, killed in action, 28 March 1918; Uncle: 2140 Pte James RICHARDS, 40th Bn, returned to Australia, 23 May 1917. |
Other details |
War service: Western Front Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |