Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Colin Richardson was a World War I (WWI) soldier. John was part of the 10th Infantry Battalion, and he was a conductor and tramway employee. 

John Colin Richardson was born sometime during January 1891. He was born in the small suburb of Daylesford in Victoria, 115km northwest of Melbourne. His mother Emmeline Richardson lived in Maldon, Victoria, 46km away from Daylesford. Sometime during his childhood/teenage years, Richardson moved to Adelaide, South Australia and lived on Magill Road. John Colin never married, and he was of the religion Protestantism. On the 9th of August 1915, John Colin Richardson enlisted to go to war. His rank was private, and he would be in the 10th Infantry Battalion, 12th reinforcement. His service number was 3881. 115 days later on the 2nd of December 1915, John’s unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on the RMS Malwa.

John arrived in Cairo, Egypt, to begin his training as part of the 10th Infantry battalion during March 1916. The Australian divisions had finally joined up with the British Forces in France and Belgium, and the Australian divisions in Egypt moved to France in 1916. 

No ground was captured, and the attack failed, with the Germans countering with heavy machine-gun and artillery fire. 4 days later, there was a planned attack on Pozieres. This attack was supported with heavy artillery fire. This attack was more successful than others, but still was not great. The Australian forces were once again struck by the Germans, as they pounded the area with their artillery. Thiepval was next to be visited by the Australians. Richardson was wounded in this battle of Thiepval, and went to hospital until November.

He re-joined his fellow soldiers on October 5, and started combat again on November 4. This town was attacked by the Australians, as the British had been stuck there for several weeks. The front was narrow, and they were once again not ready for the counter attacks. They were exposed to deadly shell fire. The last noticeable attacks of 1916 of the Australian forces ended on November 18, when they attacked Gueudecourt and Flers, and were unsuccessful due to the rain, mud and slush of the upcoming winter. During training, John took another hit, and went to hospital on November 30, and came back 15 days later.

After more fights in 1917 and 1918 and more injuries, John returned to Australia on 25 February 1919. John passed away on 11 March 1980, aged 89. He was buried at the Victor Harbour Cemetery, South Australia. Overall, John Colin Richardson did a lot for Australia in World War I and showed great Anzac spirit.

Bibliography:

Pearson History 9 2012, Pearson Australia, Melbourne, Victoria.

John Colin Richardson 2018, RSL Virtual War

 Memorial, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/327571>.

Service Record 1915, Document, Anzac, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Se

archNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8035035>.

Tent lines of the 10th Infantry Battalion camp at Mena at the base of the pyramids. 1915, Photograph, Unknown, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1004159>.

Major Felix Gordon Giles Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion, standing outside the dugout of 2018, Photograph, Unknown, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1004198>.

Men of D Company in a deep sap in the 10th Battalion lines. 2018, Photograph, Unknown, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C372>.

FIRST WORLD WAR EMBARKATION ROLL John Colin Richardson 2018, Australian War Memorial, Australia, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1897458>.

1916: Australians in France 2018, Australian War Memorial, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/event/ww1/1916/essay>.

First World War 1914–18 2018, Australian War Memorial, accessed 11 March 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/first-world-war>.