53572
RICHES, Robert Wilfred
| Service Number: | 115 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | London, England, January 1895 |
| Home Town: | Torrensville, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 23 January 1977 |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Woodville Kilkenny Church of St. Edward Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 115, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 115, 1st Divisional Signal Company, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sapper, 115, 1st Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 115, 1st Divisional Signal Company, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 21 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 115, 1st Divisional Signal Company |
Help us honour Robert Wilfred Riches's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"...115 Sapper Robert Wilfred (Will) Riches, 1st Division Signals Company in his dugout in the Anzac area. A native of London, England, Spr Riches was a clerk from Torrensville, SA prior to enlistment and embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Karroo on 20 October 1914. After serving at Gallipoli, hehe served on the Western Front where he was promoted to Corporal and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal "For conspicuous good work as a motor cyclist despatch rider from 22nd September 1917 to 24th Februray 1918, particularly for his gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations east of Ypres from 22nd September to 12th October 1917. The roads over which he had to carry his despatches were much cut up by traffic and shell fire, yet in spite of the difficulties caused by the inclement weather he never once failed to deliver his despatches though at times he had to pass through heavily shelled areas to do so. He has at all times displayed considerable initiative and devotion to duty in getting his despatches through successfully." Cpl Riches returned to Australia on4 November 1918. His brother, 4503 Spr Edward Victor Riches was killed in action on 15 November 1917." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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