James Edward Richardson

James Edward Richardson

Kings Park Memorial walk
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c December 1917
Place of Birth	Beaufort street, Perth, Western Australia
Death	22 Aug 1918
Place of Death	near Harbonnières, France
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 5 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 126lbs 57.153 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Hospital orderly
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK Wellington street, Perth, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Ellen Elizabeth Richardson
Military Information
Reg Number	6784
Date of Enlistment	14 May 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement transferred to 16th Battalion / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	29 Jun 1917 ‒ 5 Aug 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A30 Borda
Fate	Killed in Action 22 Aug 1918
Monument	Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Shipped to England after only 6 weeks in training in Australia. On arrival in England he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone before transferring on 26 Aug 1917 to the 6th Training Battalion at Fovant.

On 30 Jan 1918, James proceeded overseas to France through Southampton to reinforce the 16th Battalion and was taken on strength by them on 9 Feb 1918 along with 62 other men that day. On 28 Apr 1918 he was detached to the 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery until 12 May 1918 when he rejoined the 16th Battalion at Blangy.

James was Killed in Action on 22 Aug 1918, seemingly the victim of a sniper as recorded in his Red Cross file held by the Australian War Memorial.

"During the evening of Aug 22 1918, Richardson was shot through the head by bullet at Madame Wood and killed instantly. I saw his body on a stretcher. He was taken to Bttn. Headquarters for burial. I did not see him buried." 7045 Pte G. Culmser.

"I knew a Jim E. Richardson of the 16th Battalion, but his regimental number was 6874 and he was killed in action on 9th July 1918. He was one of two brothers in the 16th Battalion, the other, Cuthbert has returned to Australia. I did not see Richardson killed, but we were occupying the front line behind Warfusee. I know that he was sniped through the head and was killed instantly. He was about 5'6" in height, thick set and had brown eyes and fair brownish hair. He came from a suburb of Perth W.A., and his father was a retired policeman. We came over together on the "Border" with the 20th Reinforcements." 6808 Pte F.R. DeWorbies.

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  Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Notes

The only one to match the name on the memorial.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial