William James Reid Richardson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 28/07/2017 - 13:48

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

James Reid

Last Name:

Richardson

Date of Birth:

Monday, February 18, 1867

Mother's Name:

Eliza Richardson

Father's Name:

John Richardson

Date Enlisted:

Friday, September 17, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

2nd Lieutenant

Rank at Discharge:

Captain

Unit:

5th Pioneer Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, April 15, 1935

Place of Death:

Bulli, N.S.W.

Details:

William Richardson was born in Fairy Meadow, NSW. On 18th October 1907 he married Elsie Hull and they eventually had 5 children. William served for 18 months with the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, B Company, 3rd Contingent in the Boer War (Service No 606) and returned holding the rank of Sergeant.

He was assigned to the NSW Lancer Contingent and sent to England for the Queen Victoria Jubilee; William was again despatched with the NSW Contingent for the Coronation of King Edward 7th.

William was granted a Commission with the AIF when he was 45 years old and the Shire Clerk of Bulli Municipal Council. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A32 Themistocles as 2nd Lieutenant with 1st Battalion, 11th Reinforcements on 5th October 1915. He arrived in Egypt but his file is unclear as to whether he served at Gallipoli.

On 3rd March 1916 William was transferred to 5th Pioneer Battalion and was promoted to Lieutenant on 3rd April 1916.

He arrived in France on 25th June 1916 and was promoted to Captain on 6th July 1916. William saw service in France until he was wounded in action on 18th July 1916. He was evacuated to hospital for treatment of a gun shot wound to his thigh.

William was repatriated to Australia in February 1917 and discharged medically unfit on 5th May 1917.

He was a keen cricketer and became an Auctioneer and Estate Agent after the war.

Sources:

RICHARDSON WILLIAM JAMES REID