Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sgt. A. E. B. Beresford was deliberately and unlawfully killed by one of his own platoon, 1828 Lce.-Cpl. James Richmond (/explore/people/286248)

Beresford had asked Richmond to top up his oil lamp and Richmond had refused. Beresford had called Richmond a "bastard", which Richmond clearly stewed on over a period of days. Later on, Richmond acquired a bottle of wine from the local French village of Fréchencourt, and then consumed enough to become intoxicated. Richmond dropped a Mills hand-grenade into the dug-out where Beresford was sleeping, causing him grevious wounds, which proved fatal within a few days.

A field court martial found Richmond guilty of Murder, and the question of the death sentence was raised. Richmond was returned to Australia to face a general court martial (re-trial) in Melbourne. Here he was convicted of unlawful killing and sentenced to four years imprisonment.

The details of the original field court-martial, and the second general court-martial can be read from the National Archives of Australia web site - LINK (recordsearch.naa.gov.au)

"Sgt. A. E. Beresford Falls.

The friends of Commander J. A. H. Beresford in Kyneton will regret to iearn that he has been notified by the Defence authorities that his son, Sgt. A. E. B. Beresford, has died of gun shot wounds in France. Sgt. Beresford left Brisbane with the original 9th Battalion, and was wounded on the day of the landing at Gailipoli. He subsequently went to France and transferred to the 26th Battalion. He was married after enlisting." - from the Kyneton Guardian 30 Jul 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"THE TRAGEDY IN FRANCE. COURT-MARTIAL ON AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER.

MELBOURNE, November 20. At the Victoria Barracks to-day the trial by court-martial of Lance-Corporal James Richmond, of the 26th Battalion, A.I.F., was concluded. He is charged with having, near Frechencourt, in France, on the night of June 25, 1918, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Sergeant Arthur Edward Beresford, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. An alternative charge eliminating the suggestion of intent to do grievous bodily harm was preferred.

Richmond, giving evidence on his own behalf, said that before the night in question he had never quarrelled with Beresford, who had never called him a ------. About a fortnight previously an argument had ensued in a wood where members of the battalion were cleaning rifles. According to what Private Parker had said about that incident, Sergeant Beresford had evidently used the term mentioned. On the night of June 25 witness went to a neighbouring village, and procured some wine, and returned to his dug-out to sleep. He had taken a few drinks, but was not drunk. He had occasion to go to another part of the camp, where he met L. J. Harris. They drank some wine, and Richmond then returned to his quarters and fell asleep. Awakening at the time of the explosion, he found that most of the other occupants of his dug-out had disappeared. Richmond denied that he called L. J. Harris from Beresford's dug-out just before the explosion.

The verdict will be decided in private, and the result of the proceedings forwarded by the president to the convening officer for confirmation or otherwise." - from the Hobart Mercury 21 Nov 1919 (nla.gov.au)

"DUG-OUT CRIME. EXPLOSION OF HAND GRENADE. CAUSES DEATH OF SERGEANT.

RICHMOND PRONOUNCED GUILTY. SENTENCE OF FOUR YEARS.

MELBOURNE, Thursday. Sentence has been promulgated in connection with the charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding brought against Lance-Corporal James Richmond, of the 26th Infantry Battalion, A.I.F. The charge arose out of the explosion of a Mills grenade in a dugout at Freschnicourt in France, as a result of which Sergeant Arthur E. Beresford received such injuries as to cause his death. Richmond was tried by court-martial in the field soon after the occurrence and found guilty, but no sentence was imposed. He was brought back to Australia in custody, and was again tried before a General Court-Martial at Victoria Barracks in November last, at which Brigadier-General R. Smith, C.M.G., D.S.O., presided. A verdict of guilty was returned, and the sentence promulgated to-day was that Richmond be reduced to the ranks and suffer penal servitude for a term of four years." - from the Perth Daily News 16 Jan 1920 (nla.gov.au)

"The fnding of the general court-martial relating to the case against Lance-corporal James Richmond, 26th Battalion, was promulgated at the Domain camp, Melbourne, this week. Richmond was found guilty on the first civil charge of having unlawfully and maliciously wounded, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and he was sentenced to a term of penal servitude for four years and reduced to the ranks. According to the evidence tendered at the court-martial in November last, Richmond was charged with wounding Sergeant A. E. Beresford, of the same battalion, at Frechencourt, France, on 25th June, 1918. The evidence showed that Richmond, who had had an argument with Beresford, went to the latter's dugout during the night with another soldier. Shortly after an explosion was heard in Beresford's dugout. Richmond declared at the trial that he did not go near Beresford's dug-out before the explosion. The sentence will be served in Tasmania." - from the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 17 Jan 1920 (nla.gov.au)

Richmond's sentence of 4 years commenced at the Hobart Gaol on 23 Jan 1920. His release date with remissions was 18 Jul 1922.