Richards, CPL John Henry

John Henry Richards (1890-?), commercial traveller and soldier, was born in Toronto, Canada. It is unknown when he moved to Australia but he spent his early adult years in Brighton, England as an apprentice. He married Constance and together they settled in East Perth.

John Richards enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 8th of March 1917 at the age of 27 and was posted to the 9th Reinforcements, 44th Battalion. He embarked for overseas service in July 1917 and arrived at the front lines in January 1918. Richards fought throughout 1918 in all of the battles of the 44th. On the 29th of September 1918, whilst Breaching the Hindenburg Line during the last battle of the war, he received a minor gunshot wound to the left knee and spent 2 months recovering in hospital. By the time he returned to the front, the war was over. Richards remained overseas until 1920, helping with the demobilisation of the Army and was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

During the war, Richards fought in 9 battles and spent 218 days in the trenches. He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Wound Stripe, Active Service Badge, 2 Good Conduct Stripes and 2 Long Service Stripes.

After the war, he applied to join the postal service and that is where our knowledge of his story ends.

NOTES

-Returned to duty 22nd November 1918. Promoted to CPL on the 22nd of January 1919

SOURCES

National Archives of Australia

AIF Project

Regimental Number:
3546

Subunit:
9th Reinforcements, 44th Battalion

Enlistment Date:
8th of March 1917

Age at Enlistment:
27 Years

Birthplace:
Toronto, Canada

Ethnicity:
Canadian Australian

Religion:
Church of England

Residence:
East Perth, Metropolitan Region, WA (2 Bennett Street)

Height and Measurements:
5"8

Occupation at Enlistment:
Commercial Traveller

Married:
Yes - Constance Valerie Richards (2 Bennett Street, East Perth)

Next of Kin:
Wife

Previous Service:
No

Total Service:
8th of March 1917 - 6th of March 1920

Overseas Service:
23rd of July 1917 - 28th of January 1920

Front Line Service:
23rd of January 1918 - 5th of February 1918, 8th of March 1918 - 29th of September 1918 (218 Days)

Battle Honours:
9: Somme 1918, Ancre 1918, Hamel, Amiens, Albert 1918, Mont St. Quentin, Hindenburg Line, St. Quentin Canal, France and Flanders 1916-1918

Casualty:

Wounded in Action and Sick. Wounded in Action – (29th of September 1918, during the Breaching of the Hindenburg Line, mild gunshot wound to left knee, 2 months in hospital). Sick – (February 1918, in hospital for 1 month)

Awards:
British War Medal, Victory Medal, Wound Stripe, Active Service Badge, 2 Good Conduct Stripes, 2 Long Service Stripes