Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 30th July…… Arthur Edward Richardson was born in 1878 at Garstang, Lancashire, England. He married Lydia Hornby Carter on 2nd May, 1906 at Salford, Lancashire, England.

A birth was registered in June quarter, 1908 in the district of Leigh, Lancashire for Edith Margaret Richardson.

The 1916 & 1917 Australian Electoral Rolls for the division of Perth, subdivision of Subiaco listed Arthur Edward Richardson, no occupation, of 230 Rokeby Road, Subiaco, Western Australia.

Arthur Edward Richardson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 28th March, 1916 as a 37 year old, married, Engine Foreman (listed as Fireman on Embarkation Roll) from 230 Rokeby Road, Subiaco, Western Australia.

Private Arthur Edward Richardson embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Clan McGillivray (A46) on 18th September, 1916 with the 11th Infantry Battalion, 20th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 2nd November, 1916.

Private Richardson proceeded to France from England on 17th December, 1916 & joined 11th Battalion in the Field on 17th January, 1917.

Private Arthur Edward Richardson was wounded in action at Bullecourt, France on 6th May, 1917. He was admitted to 8th Field Ambulance on 6th May, 1917 with a bruised ankle & right arm. He was transferred to 5th Divisional Rest Station on the same day & rejoined his Battalion on 15th May, 1917.

Private Richardson was admitted to Field Ambulance on 2nd June, 1917 with (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin). He was transferred to Rest Centre then transferred to Hospital at Rouen, France on 19th June, 1917 with Trench Fever. Private Richardson finally rejoined his Unit in the Field on 31st August, 1917.
Private Arthur Edward Richardson was listed in Honours & Awards: Operations at Broodseinde Ridge, Belgium 1st to 9th October, 1917 – Pte RICHARDSON did excellent work as guide and observer throughout the operations. On the evening of the 7th October during a very heavy enemy barrage when the S.O.S. was being sent up on our front he continued to observe and bring back reports on the situation under heavy shelling.

Private Richardson was admitted to Casualty Clearing Station on 19th October, 1917 with Bronchitis. He was transferred to Hospital at Le Treport, France on 23rd October, 1917 then transferred to Convalescent Depot on 11th November, 1917. He was marched in to 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Havre, France on 23rd November, 1917 then proceeded on 2nd January, 1918 to rejoin his Battalion but was sent to Hospital in 3rd January, 1918 enroute to rejoining his Unit. Private Richardson was admitted to Hospital again on 3rd January, 1918 with Bronchitis.

Private Richardson was medically classified by a Medical Board as B1 on 24th January, 1918. He was transferred to England on 20th February, 1918 with Chronic Bronchitis & posted to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset.

Another Medical Report was completed on Private Richardson on 26th February, 1918. It was reported that he had bronchitis in childhood then no incidence of bronchitis until he was in France. It was the opinion of the Medical Board that the Bronchitis was aggravated by active service through strain and exposure. The Medical Board recommended that Private Richardson was permanently unfit for General Service & temporarily unfit for Home Service.
Private Richardson was granted leave in England for Family Reasons from 5th April, 1918 to 19th April, 1918 without pay or allowances.

On 17th May, 1918 a letter was sent to Private Arthur Edward Richardson from John Grundy Limited, Heating and Ventilating Engineers and Ironfounders, Parr Street, Tyldesley advising that his application for employment had been accepted & he could commence work as soon as possible.

Private Richardson applied for a discharge from the Australian Imperial Force on medical grounds but requested that he be allowed to be discharged in England. Normally a soldier was discharged when they returned back to Australia – where they had originally enlisted. Private Richardson’s request was not approved so he wrote a letter to the High Commissioner, Commonwealth of Australia on 23rd May, 1918 stating that his wife was very ill & that he had a guarantee of work in a Munition Factory just 7 miles from his home. Several letters were written by the Managing Director of Elton Cop Dyeing Co. Ltd and from the Chairman of the Bolton and District Association of Dairy Farmers vouching that they could offer Private Richardson employment.

Private Arthur Edward Richardson was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force in the U.K. on 15th July, 1918, taking up employment as an Australian Munition Worker, being medically unfit. Private Arthur Edward Richardson had served for 2 years & 110 days.

Arthur Edward Richardson was approved for employment under the Australian Munition Workers Scheme. He was given a Munitions Worker Number of 2834.

[Richard William Richardson, eldest brother of Arthur Edward Richardson, died on 5th December, 1918 at Croston Barn, near Garstang, Lancashire. He was buried in St. Thomas’s Church, Garstang.]
(ex Private) Arthur Edward Richardson died on 30th July, 1919 at Croston Barn Farm, Lancashire, England. He was buried on 2nd August, 1919 in St. Thomas’s Churchyard, Garstang, Lancashire, England – Plot number E. 78 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

[Lydia Hornby Richardson, widow of the late Arthur Edward Richardson, remarried in 1924 to Joseph Sixsmith in the district of Bolton, Lancashire.]
Private A. E. Richardson is not commemorated on the Roll of Honour, located at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia as he was medically discharged from the Australian Imperial Force before his death. However, as an Australian Munitions Worker he should* be remembered on the Commemorative Roll Book, located in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The Commemorative Roll records the names of those Australians who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.

(*NOTE - At the time of researching – back in 2017 - Arthur Edward Richardson was not included on the Commemorative Roll book but his name was submitted in 2017 to the Australian War Memorial for consideration into his eligibility. At the time, as is now (2021), his Munition Worker file was closed & would need to be opened via payment. I have today (2021) emailed the Australian War Memorial to find out the progression of his case for inclusion into the Commemorative Roll)

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/garstang.html[