RICHARDS, Cecil Roy
| Service Numbers: | 3281, 4762 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Garvoc, Victoria, Australia, 24 July 1893 |
| Home Town: | Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Scotch College Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway Employee |
| Died: | 1973, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3281, 6th Field Ambulance | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 3281, 6th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 3281, 6th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ajana, Melbourne | |
| 16 Mar 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3281, 6th Field Ambulance, Discharged in England to take up Commission in Royal Flying Corps. with effect from 16 March 1917 |
World War 2 Service
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 4762 |
|---|
Help us honour Cecil Roy Richards's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Discharged in England and Commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps
OFFICER WINS CROSS
Mr. and Mrs. A. Richards, of Prince's Hill, have received, a cable message that their son, Flight-Lieutenant Roy Richards, has been awarded a Military Cross. Lieutenant Richards, who left Australia in June 915, with the 6th Field Ambulance, was educated at Scotch College. He gained the Railway Commissioners' scholar ship for study at the Working Men's College in 1914, and prior to enlisting was a member of the engineering staff of the Victorian Railways.
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Lieutenant Cecil Roy Richards M.C. of 20th Squadron RFC was shot down by Leutnant Ernest Hess, himself an ace, and captured. Cecil Richards, flying the two seater F.E.2d had shot down his first enemy aircraft, an Albatros, on the 14 June 1917, and despatched a further 11 German aircraft in the ensuing two months, including four Albatri in one day. Richards was awarded the Military Cross for this feat the citation reading “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when on offensive patrols in attacking and shooting down hostile machines. On one occasion he shot down four in one day, displaying great dash and a fine offensive spirit.”
Cecil Richards was born in Garvoc Victoria and had arrived on Gallipoli in August 1915 with the 6th Field Ambulance. He fell sick in October 1915, and was evacuated and served in France before transferring to the RFC. He eventually returned safely to Australia after the war. With 12 victories he is one of the top scoring Australian aces of the British Flying Services. Cecil Richards also served as a Squadron Leader in the RAAF during WW2. His brother 299 Gunner Willie Ross Richards of the 3rd Division Trench Mortar AIF was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his devotion to duty in France.
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