Claude Melnotte RICHARDS

Claude Melnotte RICHARDS Update Details

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RICHARDS, Claude Melnotte

Service Number:	2383
Enlisted:	15 April 1916, Newcastle, NSW
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	35th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 23 March 1887
Home Town:	Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling:	Newcastle South Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Driver
Died:	Killed in Action, Curlu, France, 28 August 1918, aged 31 years
Cemetery:	Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt Plot II, Row B, Grave No. 17
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

15 Apr 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Newcastle, NSW
29 Apr 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2383, 35th Infantry Battalion
17 Oct 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2383, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: ''
17 Oct 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2383, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney
31 May 1917:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2383, 35th Infantry Battalion
8 Jun 1917:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2383, 35th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Gassed and shell shock

Help us honour Claude Melnotte Richards's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Claude Melnotte RICHARDS was born in Newcastle, New South Wales in 1887

His parents were William Arthur RICHARDS & Louisa PHILLIS

He married Alice Louisa McNEILL in Newcastle in 1907 - they had 6 known children

Claude, Dora, Mary, Ethel, Louisa & William

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Two of his brothers also served in WW1 and returned to Australia in 1919

1. Allan William RICHARDS (SN 2382)

2. Lancelot Phillis RICHARDS (SN 2384)

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.

102 years ago today, on the 28th August 1918, Private Claude Melnotte Richards, 35th Battalion (Reg No-2383), driver (Hawkins, Limited), of 74 Newcomen Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, father of four, fell during an attack at Curlu, France, age 31.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1652825
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137496478
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159095516

Born at "St. Heliers", 3 Patrick Street, Merewether, New South Wales on the 23rd March 1887 to William Arthur (died 1929) and Louisa Richards (died 1939) nee Phillis; husband of Alice Louisa Richards nee McNeil (married 1907, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 1919) of Queen Street, Cooks Hill, N.S.W. and 4 Wickham Street, Wickham, N.S.W., Claude enlisted April 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Wounded in action - 31.5.1917 (remained on duty), 7.6.1917 (shell shock, gas, Battle of Messines - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138749961), admitted to hospital 24.12.1917 with dysentery, Claude is now resting at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France. Plot II Row B Grave 17.

Claude’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates (photos, unveiled on the 12th March 1921), The Junction Soldiers' Memorial and the Newcastle South Public School Roll of Honour.
Claude’s wife Alice, who remarried January 1919 and died November 1919 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162595141, is sleeping in an unmarked grave, so August 2020 I placed a memorial cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the memorialised grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service. ANGLICAN 1-72. 57.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=30400#photo-1

Younger brother Lancelotte (Lancelot, Lancelott) Phillis (Philip, Reg No-2384, 35th Battalion, born 1893, died 1935) resting at the cemetery. CATHOLIC 1-09. 8.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159095506 - photo and story of the 2 brothers.

Lest We Forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia