RICHARDS, Cecil William
| Service Number: | 824 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Echuca, Victoria, Australia, 23 July 1888 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Port Pirie, South Australia, 15 September 1959, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Port Pirie General Cemetery, South Australia CP1, lot 253, grave 7 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 824, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 824, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 824, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 22 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 824, 43rd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Cecil William RICHARDS was born in Echuca, Victoria on 23.07.1888 to William Henry and Frances RICHARDS (nee RODEN).
Cecil married Sylvia Blanche DANGERFIELD (30.01.1892-03.02.1938) at the Methodist Church, Port Pirie on 06.07.1910.
Cecil joined the AIF on 24.02.1916 and allocated service number 824. He was assigned to the 43rd Battalion. His attestment papers states he served 2 years with the SA Regiment of the CMF prior to enlisting.
Cecil travelled to France with the battalion and served in France and Belgium.
The 3rd Division was raised in Australia in early in 1916. The 43rd Battalion was South Australia's contribution to the strength of the division. Along with the 41st, 42nd, and 44th Battalions, plus the support troops, it combined to form the 11th Brigade.
The battalion embarked in June 1916 and, after landing briefly in Egypt, went on to Britain for further training. The battalion arrived on the Western Front in late December. The 43rd Battalion spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders. In June, the battalion took part in the battle of Messines and in October the Third Battle of Ypres.
The battalion spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley. In April, they helped stop the German Spring offensive at Villers-Bretonneux. In July, the battalion was part of General Monash's attack at Hamel. In August and September, the battalion helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line. The 43rd joined the advance that followed the 2nd Division's victory at Mont St Quentin. Cecil RICHARDS was promoted to Lance Corporal on 08.06.1918.
On 29.09.18 he was gassed and admitted to hospital. He was sent to England for treatment and remained there until his return to Australia.
He was discharged from the AIF on 22.06.1919.