RICHARDS, George
| Service Number: | 5099 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 December 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Merino, Victoria, Australia, December 1899 |
| Home Town: | Henty, Glenelg, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Merino State School, Victoria; Henty State School No 2020, Victoria |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England, 21 December 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Bristol (Arnos Vale) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Casterton War Memorial, Merino Dibgy Honour Roll, Merino War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Dec 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5099, 29th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1917: | Involvement Private, 5099, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1917: | Embarked Private, 5099, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 29 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5099, 29th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, Bellicourt: GSW to spine & paralysis – severe. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 21st December…… George Richards was born at Merino, Victoria in 1898.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 4th October, 1916 as an 18 year old, Groom (as stated on Embarkation Roll & Application to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, however his Attestation Papers recorded that he was a Grocer).
Private George Richards, Service number 5099, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 22nd December, 1917 with the 29th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcements & disembarked at Suez on 16th January, 1918.
On 22nd January, 1918 Private Richards entrained from Suez to Alexandria then detrained at Camp “A” Gabbon at Alexandria on 23rd January, 1918. He embarked on H.M.T. Abbassieh from Alexandria on 29th January, 1918 & disembarked at No. 9 Rest Camp at Taranto, Italy on 4th February, 1918. Private Richards then entrained from Taranto on 7th February, 1918 & entrained at Cherbourg, France on 14th February, 1918 then embarked the same day from Cherbourg on H.M.T. Prince George. He disembarked at Southampton, England on 15th February, 1918.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
Private George Richards was marched in to 15th Training Battalion at Codford, Wiltshire on 15th February, 1918. He was on Command at School of Instruction at Jellalabad Barracks, Wilthsire from 23rd February, 1918.
On 11th April, 1915 Private Richards was transferred from 15th Training Battalion to 14th Training battalion at Codford, Wiltshire.
He was written up for an Offence at Codford on 11th April, 1918 – AWL (absent without leave) from 24.00 hrs 10th April, 1918 until 06.00 hrs on 11th April, 1918. He forfeited of 1 days’ pay.
Private Richards was sent sick to Group Hospital at Codford on 15th April, 1918 with enlarged tonsils. He was admitted to 3rd New Zealand Hospital at Codford on 16th April, 1918 with Quinsey. Private Richards was discharged to Training Depot on 27th May, 1918. He was marched in to 14th Training Battalion at Codford the same day.
On 8th July, 1918 Private Richards proceeded overseas to France from 14th Training Battalion. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Le Havre, France on 10th July, 1918. He was marched out to his Unit on 13th July, 1918 & was taken on strength of 29th Battalion from 14th Reinforcements in the Field on 17th July, 1918.
Private George Richards was wounded in action on 29th September, 1918.He was admitted to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station on 29th September, 1918 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to back. He was then transferred to No. 12 Ambulance Train then admitted to 2nd General Hospital at Havre, France on 30th September, 1918 & was reported to be dangerously ill. Private Richards was invalided to England on Hospital Ship Guilford Castle on 1st October, 1918.
He was admitted to Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England on 2nd October, 1918 with GSW to spine & paralysis – severe.
Private George Richards died at 10.40 am on 21st December, 1918 at Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England from wounds received in action – GSW to spine, absorption & exhaustion.
On 27th December, 1918 Private Richards was buried in Holy Souls Cemetery, now Arnos Vale Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bristol, England where 6 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/arnos-vale-rc.html
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