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RICHARDS Norman Alfred RANR MB BS

1919-1980

Norman Alfred Richards was born on 22nd May 1919, in Adelaide. He was the son of Alfred Samuel Richards and Ada Lily, nee Cole. He was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1942.  He married Mary Joan Haste, on the 25th September 1943, at St Peter’s College Chapel. She was the daughter of Dr Reginald Arthur Haste, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who served in WW1, and Dorothy Eden, nee Holden.

Richards, with seniority of 4th June 1943 was mobilised as a surgeon lieutenant on 4th June 1944. His wife Mary was named as his next of kin. Her address was given as care of Dr R A Haste of 177 Magill Road Maylands. His first appointments were to Torrens and Cerberus until 25th August 1944, followed by a seagoing appointment to HMAS Westralia.  During August, he was mainly in the Solomon Islands on training exercises, followed by similar duties in the Aitape, PNG area in September. During his time on Westralia, she took part in the landings at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, in October 1944.  Followed by spending December 1944 in the Solomon Islands and at Manus Island, before returning to the Philippines for the Lingayen landings in January 1945. There she experienced an attempted Kamikaze attack by a Japanese aircraft. Only minor damage was sustained. Westralia returned to Australia in March 1945. A fire in her holds delayed her for ten days, in Brisbane. On the last day of the month, she sailed for Manus Island preparatory to taking part in operations in Borneo. The landings at Balikpapan in July 1945 ended Westralia's part in transporting troops to areas that were in enemy hands, and from then until the end of hostilities she was engaged in carrying troops and stores to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Richards was on the Westralia throughout this time before returning to Cerberus and Torrens for his termination of service, on 18th December 1946, and transfer to RANVR. His address on discharge was 221 West Terrace, Kensington Gardens, SA. He was promoted to lieutenant commander RANVR on 4th June 1949, and that appointment was terminated on 31st March 1958.

After the war, Richards followed a career in obstetrics and gynaecology.  He completed an MD entitled: A consideration of the Surgical Menopause following Hysterectomy, at the University of Adelaide, in 1951. Richards degree was conferred in absentia as he was now working at the Chelsea Hospital for Women, in London. He appears to have moved to Wales later.  Norman Alfred Richards died in September 1980 in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD