Alfred Harold RICHARDSON

RICHARDSON, Alfred Harold

Service Number: 3528
Enlisted: 30 June 1915
Last Rank: Lance Sergeant
Last Unit: 7th Infantry Battalion
Born: Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, September 1880
Home Town: Kew, Boroondara, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Journalist
Died: Tuberculosis, At sea (SS Beltama), 8 April 1917
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Kew War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

30 Jun 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3528, 7th Infantry Battalion
11 Oct 1915: Involvement Private, 3528, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: ''
11 Oct 1915: Embarked Private, 3528, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne
20 Jan 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion
13 Feb 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion
15 Feb 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 7th Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

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

Died on this date – 8th April…… Alfred Harold Richardson was born at Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria in 1881. His father - Samuel Alfred Richardson died in 1884 in Victoria.

Alfred Harold Richardson attended school at Leighton Park, Reading, England & also attended Queen’s College, Oxford, England.

He returned to Australia & was listed in the 1914, 1915 & 1916 Australian Electoral Rolls for the division of Kooyong, subdivision of Kew, Victoria as an Author from Sunning Hill, Cotham Rd, Kew.

On 30th June, 1915 Alfred Harold Richardson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 35 year old, single, Journalist from Kew, Victoria.

Private Alfred Harold Richardson embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Nestor (A71) on 11th October, 1915 with the 7th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcements. He joined 7th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 20th January, 1916 & was appointed Lance Corporal on 1st February, 1916.

Lance Corporal Alfred Harold Richardson was promoted to Corporal on 15th February, 1916 while posted as Serapeum. He was appointed Lance Sergeant on the same day. He reverted to ranks at his own request on 23rd March, 1916.

Private Alfred Harold Richardson was admitted to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital at Serapeum on 25th March, 1916 with Influenza. He was transferred to Base by Ambulance Train on 29th March, 1916. Private Richardson was admitted to Australian Military Infectious Hospital at Cairo on 14th April, 1916 with Typhoid. He was admitted on 15th June, 1916 with Enteric at Alexandria.

A Medical Report was completed on Private Alfred Harold Richardson on 15th July, 1916 at Ras-el-Tin Convalescent Depot. His disability was listed as Enterica which had originated in February, 1916 at Serapeum, Canal Zone. The disability was caused by Active Service & infection. The Officer in charge of the case recommended that Private Richardson be changed to England (he was not recommended for discharge as permanently unfit). The Officer in charge of Hospital, Ras El-Tin Convalescent Camp agreed with the decision on 27th July, 1916.

He embarked for England on Hospital Ship on 13th August, 1916 & was admitted to Addington Park War Hospital, Croydon, England on 26th August, 1916 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined).

On 2nd October, 1916 Private Richardson was admitted to No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, England with Anaemia & Debility.

A Medical Report was completed on Private Alfred Harold Richardson on 11th October, 1916. His disability was listed as “Debility after Enteric Fever Ch. Rheumatism.” His present condition was listed as “Patient is thin and anaemic – walks with stick as he feels safer…. Movement of abduction of Rt shoulder is painful….” The Officer in charge of the case recommended that Private Richardson be discharged as permanently unfit. The Officer in charge of Hospital considered he was temporarily unfit for General Service. The Medical Board found that Private Richardson was “temporarily unfit for general service for more than six months and unfit for home service.”

Private Richardson was discharged from Southall & was on furlough from 17th October, 1916 till 27th October, 1916. He was admitted to “Isolation M V” on 17th December, 1916. He was sent sick to Sidney Hall Hospital on 30th December, 1916 from No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset.

On 17th March, 1917 Private Richardson was marched out from No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England to be returned to Australia on H.T Beltana (A 72) for Change due to Debility & Chronic Rheumatism. He embarked from Devonport, England.

“Lance Sergeant” Alfred Harold Richardson died at midnight on 8th April, 1917 at Sea on board H. T. Beltana from Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

He was buried at Sea from H. T. Beltana at 7 am on 8th April, 1917.

He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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

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