CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS
William Francis Richardson, who was born in the parish of St. Martin’s, Birmingham, in December 1883, enlisted in the 16th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment in October 1914 having, according to his attestation papers, previously served in the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion for six years, and the 8th Battalion for two years, and been discharged at his own request. Remaining employed in the U.K., and quickly appointed a Colour-Sergeant, he was commissioned into the 18th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, in August 1915.
South Africa and the Far East
Having then transferred to the 25th Battalion, also in the U.K., he was embarked for the Far East in early 1917, the voyage nearly ending in serious loss of life, for his transport, the Tyndareus, was mined off Cape L’Agulhas, off Cape Town, an incident which prompted the King to commend the embarked troops for their discipline and courage which ‘worthily upheld the splendid tradition of the Birkenhead, ever cherished in the annals of the British Army’. One newspaper correspondent reported that the mine ‘shook the transport from stem to stern’, and that the assembly was immediately sounded:
‘And the troops, each man wearing a life belt, lined the decks in perfect order. The ship was settling down by the head with the propellers hanging out of the water, and it appeared almost certain that the vessel would sink before assistance could reach her, but, though they must have realised their imminent peril, the demeanour of the men suggested, not that they were facing death, but that they were parading for long leave.’
Richardson, who commanded ‘C’ Company, and all of his comrades were eventually rescued and, after an extended stay in South Africa, they resumed their journey to the Far East, where he was appointed Provost Marshal and Superintendent of the Detention Barracks in Hong Kong. And aside from trips to such places as Colombo and Sydney, he remained employed in that capacity until the summer of 1918.
Russia 1918-20
Then in July 1918, Richardson’s battalion was ordered to North Russia, arriving at Vladivostok on 3 August and, before long, was involved in operations against the Bolsheviks, including armoured train actions. He is believed to have returned to the U.K. in the following year, quite possibly as a result of illness judging by reference to a Silver War Badge on his MIC entry, dated in August 1919. Be that as it may, he clearly recovered, for by early 1920 he was serving in South Russia as a Captain in the Royal Engineers, attached Railway Advisory Staff, in the vicinity of Novo Rossisk. But, as confirmed by the following letter received by his widow, from Captain G. N. Wood of the Dorsetshire Regiment, he died of broncho pneumonia on 7 February 1920:
‘As a friend of Captain Richardson, I feel that I must write to you to express my very deepest sympathy in your great sorrow.
I first met Captain Richardson on the journey to Russia, and though our acquaintance was short, a very real friendship existed between us.
As I was the only other Englishman with him at the time of his illness, I can give you some particulars which you might be glad to know.
Your husband and I had been working together for a fortnight in the mountains, north of Novo Rossisk on the preparation of a line of defences. The weather was extremely cold, and was probably the cause of his sudden illness.
Captain Richardson had been in the very best of health and spirits, until one morning he complained of having slept badly, and having pains in his body. He remained in bed during the day, but in the evening was plainly very ill. I managed to find a doctor from a Russian regiment who gave him medicine, and advised me to get him to hospital at Novo Rossisk.
During that night his Russian orderly, interpreter and I myself sat with him, and did all possible for his comfort. He slept a little at times, and did not seem to be in great pain.
The next morning we carried Captain Richardson into the railway carriage of an English Colonel who was passing through, and who promised to see him into hospital safely. I also sent my own English servant to sit with him and attend to his needs.
Although the house in which we were living in the village of Bakanskaya was very poor, Captain Richardson was not living in discomfort. The Cossacks were most kind and did everything possible for him. He had good food, milk, tea, wine and brandy.
All the Russians with whom we were working, and the villagers, were most distressed at Captain Richardson’s illness and I had many enquiries and expressions of sympathy from them.
On my return to Novo Rossisk, about a week later, it was with the greatest sorrow that I learnt of the loss of my friend.
The funeral took place here on the afternoon of the 12th. Several of his friends were present, and his Russian orderly, Alexander, asked to be included in the carrying party. The funeral ceremony was very simple, but everything was performed with the greatest care and reverence. The service was conducted by the Rev. Churchwood of the Y.M.C.A. and a Naval bugler sounded the “Last Post” over the grave.
Captain Richardson lies in an English plot in the Russian cemetery at Novo Rossisk, with several others of our officers and men, on a hill overlooking the sea.
Mr. Churchwood will send you some photographs of the grave when the cross is erected and all is in order. I have in my possession some camera films taken by your husband just before his death. I will have them developed and sent to you.’
Richardson, a confirmed recipient of the Russian Orders of St. Anne and St. Stanislaus, was 37 years of age and left a widow, May Lillian Richardson of Edgbaston, Birmingham, and a young daughter - both of whom were left destitute as a result of his early demise, or certainly according to a letter sent by their local M.P. to the War Office in May 1920 (copy included).
In light of the fact his grave could no longer be maintained in Russia, Richardson’s name is also commemorated on the Haidar Pasha Memorial in Turkey.
To be sold with the following archive and artefacts
(i) The recipient’s original commission warrant for the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Land Forces (Infantry), dated 5 October 1915.
(ii) Several documents and newspaper cuttings relating to the mining of the Tyndareus off Cape L’Agulhas in February 1917, including a programme for the first anniversary service of thanksgiving at St. John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong.
(iii) A photograph album mainly comprising scenes from aboard the Tyndareus and 25th Battalion’s subsequent stay in South Africa in 1917, hand-captioned (approximately 48 images), and including Colonel Ward in an open boat; together with another large format album with comparable subject matter (approximately 178 images), but also with a fine array of scenes from Hong Kong and China 1917-18, and of a crocodile ‘shot at Borneo by Capt. W. F. Richardson, July 1918’.
(iv) A set of ‘Memorial Post Cards of Victorious Allied Military developments in Siberia’ (9 cards), in titled paper wrapper.
(v) A photograph album entitled ‘Siberia 1918’ and additionally inscribed, ‘Capt. W. F. Richardson, 25th Middlesex Regt.’ (approximately 95 images), all hand-captioned, with a fascinating array of subject matter, including personnel, shipping and buildings, and charting the 25th Battalion’s movements from Vladvostok to Omsk, via Irkutsk, and Krasnoyarsk, and thence to Moji in Japan.
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