Francis Stanley Ralley Richards

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 21/03/2015 - 11:22

First Name:

Francis

Middle Name:

Stanley Ralley

Last Name:

Richards

Alternate Spelling:

Stan, Rally

Date of Birth:

Wednesday, August 15, 1888

Mother's Name:

Maria Richards (nee Keeling)

Father's Name:

Jim Richards

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, January 13, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

34th Battalion / 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Wollongong, New South Wales

Cause of Death:

Pancreatic Cancer

Details:

Private Stan Richards (Service No. 224) was born in Leicester, England and came to Australia with his family. His father worked in the mine and used to engage in boxing matches to earn extra money for the family, only to reach an early death in 1902. As a result of this young Stan was given work at the mine a few weeks short of his 14th birthday. Stan was at work when the Mount Kembla Mine explosion occurred and at 13 years old was the youngest victim. He was seriously burned but survived.

On 6th October, 1909 Stan married Ethel May Parker and together they had 5 children. They moved from Mount Kembla to Kurri Kurri, where Stan later enlisted.

Stan embarked on HMAT A20 Hororata with A Company 34th Battalion on 9th May, 1916. After arriving in England Stan transferred to the 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery on 20th November, 1916. He saw service on the Western Front with them.

On 18th March, 1917 Stan was seriously wounded in action, receiving a penetrating gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital for treatment and was returned to Australia in September 1917. He was discharged medically unfit on 16th October, 1917.

Stan returned to his family and died in 1968.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, RICHARDS FRANCIS STANLEY RALLEY