Frank William Richardson
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 26 Jul 1925 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 17 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'10½" (1.79m) tall ; ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 25 Hill street, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Margaret Jane Richardson |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | PA3316 |
| Date of Enlistment | 17 Nov 1942 |
| Rank | Able Seaman |
| Ships Served On | |
| Ship Name | HMAS Westralia |
| Tour Dates | 22 Apr 1943 ‒ 31 Dec 1943 |
| Ship Name | HMAS Parkes |
| Tour Dates | 25 May 1944 ‒ 21 Dec 1945 |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Enlisted in Port Adelaide and was sent to HMAS Cerberus for basic training which occupied him from 17 Nov 1942 until 21 Apr 1943. On 22 Apr 1943 Frank was posted to HMAS Westralia as an Ordinary Seaman II. The Westralia had been requisitioned from her civil owners for operating as an Armed Merchant Cruiser until Frank joined her and after as a Landing Ship Infantry. There on 26 Jul 1943 he was re-rated as Ordinary Seaman I, remaining with the ship until 31 Dec 1943 when he was transferred to HMAS Moreton in Brisbane.
His next ship appears to have been the HMAS Parkes, an Australian manufactured minesweeper. He joined as part of her Commissioning crew and soon after they were escorting convoys between Australia , New Guinea and Thursday Island from their base in Darwin. In late September 1944 the Parkes was transferred to Fremantle for a short time before returning to Darwin where she resumed convoy escort duties.
Frank's records hint at his transferring to shore duties in HMAS Melville, in Darwin in Sep 1945, to HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle in December and then to HMAS Torrens in Adelaide later the same month. Frank was discharged on 25 Mar 1946, giving Kelmscott as his proposed address. As he had Annual leave, leave in lieu of re-establishment, and deferred pay owing, he departed the navy with more than £165.
Post War
Notes