RICHARDS, John
| Service Number: | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 April 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Railway Operating Company |
| Born: | Bungwahl, New South Wales, Australia, 15 November 1891 |
| Home Town: | Maryville, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fireman |
| Died: | Maryville, New South Wales, Australia, 14 September 1941, aged 49 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW GENERAL-37A. 42. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1990, Railway Unit (AIF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement Private, 1990, Railway Unit (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 11 May 1917: | Embarked Private, 1990, Railway Unit (AIF), HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 21 Apr 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sapper, 2nd Light Railway Operating Company | |
| 26 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sapper, 1990, 2nd Light Railway Operating Company, 2nd MD |
Help us honour John Richards's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
50 years ago today, on the 15th September 1971, Sapper John Richards, 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company (Reg No-1990), fireman and engine driver from 44 McMichael Street, Maryville, New South Wales and 49 Downie Street, Maryville, N.S.W., father of three (Betty, Beryl, Jack L), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 79. GENERAL-37A. 42.
Born at Bungwahl, New South Wales on the 15th November 1891 to John (Jack) and Margaret Murray Richards nee Paterson; husband of Lillian Elizabeth Richards nee Sessions (married 1923, Wickham, N.S.W., died 1958, also sleeping here), John enlisted March 1917 with the 5th Railway Unit at Sydney, N.S.W.
Entertained with Leslie George Doran (2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company, Reg No-1843), also resting at the cemetery. ANGLICAN 2-138. 86.
Admitted to hospital 23.10.1918 (pyrexia and bronchitis), John returned home April 1919, being discharged medically unfit (influenza) on the 26th May 1919.
Older brother James George (Australian Corps Signal Company, Reg No-6804, born 1890, died 20.9.1945, Botany Cemetery) also served 1st A.I.F.
Older brother Leslie Alexander (53rd Battalion, Reg No-2231, born 1888, KIA 14.3.1917) memorialised at the cemetery - ANGLICAN 1-32. 47.
Mr. Richards’s name has been inscribed on the Hamilton Superior Public School Roll of Honor and the Port Waratah Locomotive Depot Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 28th April 1917, 52 names originally inscribed, 59 names now inscribed, 7 Fallen). Name not inscribed on the NSW Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour 1914-1919.
I located John resting in an unmarked grave, apparently now forgotten, so June 2019 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.
I submitted an application to DVA May 2021 asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip to restore Honour and Dignity to Mr. Richards, and this was accepted August 2021.
I will post photos when gravesite complete.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.