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Born in Toowoomba Queensland on the 10th February 1912, to William Crawford and Maude Smith Richard’s (Dick) family moved to the Murray River town of Renmark. Dick’s siblings included Thomas, Frieda and William (Bill). Dick’s family were also very close to their cousins Wally, Leslie, Doris and Chris also lived in the same town.
Aged 22, in May ’34 Dick proposed to Ivy Myrtle Gower of Renmark one of six daughters. At that stage he was employed as a bus driver and was also serving in the Militia as number 309383. He and Myrtle married soon afterwards.
With the outbreak of WWII, Dick’s younger brother, 21-year-old Thomas was the first to enlist on the 26th March ’40, being allocated to the 2/10th Battalion. Aged 28, Dick followed, enlisting from Renmark on the 6th July 1940 as did his cousin Walter Smith, becoming SX8176 and SX8184 respectively. Both were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. At that time many other young Riverland men enlisted including Harry Lock SX6846 and so many were also allocated to the same battalion. They trained at Wayville, now the Adelaide Showgrounds before marching to Woodside for more training.
Whist on pre-embarkation leave Dick’s brother Tom married Vivienne Bartlett Joy in June.
Dick and many others from the region returned to Renmark on their pre-embarkation leave visiting friends and relatives in September. Many of the 17 young men were in his 2/48th Battalion, including SX8039 Donald F. Priester, SX8184 Walter Smith, SX6876 Harold A. J. Roy, SX6866 Roy T. Loveday. SX8179 Howard J. Trenwith, SX6846 Harry Lock, SX6839 James Boothey, SX7996 Colin Roger R. Jacka and SX8274 Andrew Kelly.
The young men were feted at the Renmark Institute in October when presentations were made to those who had enlisted. Over 500 people attended to hear speeches and watch the presentations of propelling pencils and cigarettes made to the 20 local men, including Dick. The Mayor said that “he felt the huge crowd present was more expressive than anything he could say of the regard in which they were held. He felt that the lads they had met to honour were brimful of the true British spirit. Right through history, England had fought for tolerance, freedom, and honour. So was it any wonder that the men of Australia had answered the call as they had.”
Following this brief leave, the new soldiers returned to the 2/48th with their contingent then embarking on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940. Tom’s 2/10th Battalion was also on the same ship. These young men was soon on their way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. In March Dick was diagnosed with painful kidney stones and had a week in hospital. The following month, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
In October ’40 Dick uncharacteristically received a fine for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’ but balanced this with undertaking studies as a mechanic. He was successful two years later with the comment on his papers to become a fitter being that he was ‘A Trier and shows keen interest.’ By August ’41 Dick was transferred from the 2/48th Battalion to be a mechanic in 12 Company, eventually gaining qualifications to transfer to the 2/23 Field Work Company. Conditions, however were not the most hygienic for the soldiers with Dick contracting sandfly fever in In June ’42 causing him to be hospitalised.
Where possible, back home the local Murray Pioneer reported on the young men serving overseas. Driver Dick Smith of the A.A.S.C., Infantry wrote a prophetic verse to the editor which was published in February ‘42, whilst also mentioning that ‘Lester Johnson (SX8213), Max Walters (SX8182), Wally Smith (SX8184) and Andy Kelly (SX8214) were all well at the time of writing and sent their best wishes to their Renmark friends.’ Dick wrote:
“Six months in this lousy desert
Eating biscuits and bully stew
Six months of blizzards and sandstorms
No wonder I'm feeling blue.
There's Shorty, Nig and Bluey;
They argue the blinken point
As to why we're blinken well fighting
And what we want with this joint.
Of course we play cards in the day time,
When we can't get about on top
We play a game of poker
For a couple of piasters a pop.
We work all night carrying ammo
And come home tired as hell.
Then the fleas take up their positions,
And they dive-bomb us as well.
When we go to the front of a night time,
With grub for the lads in the line,
Jerry opens up with his typewriters;
Believe me they've an ugly whine.
Then he flings over some hardware
They sound nasty the way they flop
Sometimes he gets really vicious
And slings all but the kitchen clock.
But Jerry can do his darndest,
We can take it, and give it by h#ck;
And there will come a day when Adolf,
Will cop it fair in the neck.
Then we get talking about home,
And what we'll do on the boat,
And "Blue" hopes they've got a Boozer
That "codger's" a blooming soak
Now there's a rumour of leave on,
So we'll polish our tattered gear,
And eat the best of tucker,
And fill up on good old beer.
Then we'll forget all these hardships
And how we fought for this land
But we'll never forget our comrades
Whose graves are being covered with sand.”
Five months later, 26-year-old Lester was to become one of Dick’s comrades who were killed in action in Egypt on the 17th July ’42 and Roger Jacka narrowly avoided also dying of wounds.
Following their service in the Middle East, the men returned home to Renmark with a huge contingent being welcomed by family and friends. Dick’s compatriots included Messrs. Walter Coombe SX7412, Bryan Nuske SX5237, Dick, F. Priester SX8039, W. Smith, H. A. J. Roy SX6876, R. T. Loveday SX6866. H. J. Trenwith SX8179, Harry Lock SX6846, D. French, R. Porter, Bryan, Lunday, Boothey. R. Smith, R. Jacka and A. Kelly were amongst the many of the A.I.F. men who spent the week-end in Renmark.
The local Murray Pioneer noted the men’s return with record crowds massed at the railway station. A hugely patriotic article appeared. ‘BEHIND the official announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) this week that a further contingent of troops had arrived in Australia from the Middle East lies a story of great excitement and enthusiasm in the River districts. The joy which came to human hearts as trains conveying the troops drew into the various stations could only be appreciated by those who witnessed the unforgettable scenes on the crowded platforms It recalled to the mind happenings of 12 months earlier when the first troops from overseas returned to Australia.
‘Many of these heroes of Rommel's El Alamein debacle—their most recent triumph—had been away from home for three years and were among the "Rats of Tobruk". From the time some days earlier, that news leaked through that the men had arrived at "An Australian port," relatives had lived in an air of joyous expectancy, which broke loose aa the various men reached their home stations on three weeks' leave. Practically without exception the men looked 100 per cent fit, though some carried the unmistakable traces of hard campaigning under difficult conditions.’
‘At Renmark the station yard was crowded on the several occasions when special coaches were attached to the passenger train to brins the men to their home stations. The largest attendance was on the Saturday afternoon that the first of the Diggers arrived home. All parking room in the station yard and approaches having been taken, cars were parked for some hundred yards down the road outside, and there must have been 500 people present. The height of community enthusiasm, however, was not reached until the welcome home social on the Thursday evening, when the record attendance of 1,000 thronged the Institute to honour these heroes of many campaigns.
‘It was Indeed a "meeting of the clans", including people from other districts as well as local residents. The hall's capacity proved unequal to the occasion. Renmark was determined to welcome those who had fought and suffered. A number of wounded men were present. Mothers, wives and sweethearts were noted in the crowd. Seats were provided on the stage as well as all round the hall—sometimes double-banked—but even then there was scarcely "standing room" for the mighty throng.’
In a eulogistic speech the RSL President commented that “in greeting these fine young men, that a mere 35 years ago they were peace loving lads in a peaceful country, but by virtue of their earnest training and their high ideals they were today fighting soldiers second to none in the world. He reiterated that nobody in Australia was more proud of them than members of the original AIF. Old soldiers had watched their exploits with the keenest interest. Many of them were sons of men who had served twenty-five years earlier.
"It must be a matter of pride that of the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in this war three of these greatest awards have been made to members of one battalion." The men who bad assisted in these great exploits stood before them. They still had a job to do and he knew from conversation with the gallant men themselves that they desired to complete the task before them. This was not the "welcome" to which they looked forward, but a greeting in passing. He wished them all God speed and a final happy return to Renmark. On behalf of ex-servicemen he congratulated them on what had been accomplished and expressed confidence in their determination to carry on their valorous campaign to victory.’
Following this leave, both Dick and his brother Tom served in New Guinea where Dick contracted a high fever (PUO). Tom was one of a number in his battalion who were injured on Christmas Day ’43 and died of his wounds. He was initially buried in Coconut Grove Cemetery before being reinterred in the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby. When Dick learned of the death of his brother, he placed a tribute in the local Murray Pioneer.
‘SMITH — In loving memory of our dear brother Pte. T. H. Smith who died of wounds 25th December, 1942, in New Guinea. A duty nobly done. —Inserted by his brother Dick A.I.F. Abroad, Ivy and niece Marilyn.’
In ’43 Dick undertook a course as a fitter whilst with the 2/23 Company, passing both the practical and oral but not the written component. Soon after, in September Dick was finally discharged. He and Ivy welcomed their second child in June ‘46, a son Trevor Thomas, and brother for Marilyn. The name Dick and Ivy chose, Thomas, was in honour of their younger brother, killed all too soon.
Dick and Ivy continued to remember Tom in the ensuing years as did his family and cousin, Walter.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 23 December 1943, SMITH—In loving memory, of dear Tom who died of wounds Christmas Day, 1942, N.G. Not just today, but every day, in silence we remember. —Inserted by his ever-loving brother, Dick, 9th Div., N.G., Ivy and Niece Marilyn.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 20 December 1945, SMITH-In loving memory of. our dear brother Tom, died of wounds December 25th, 1942, N.G. Many a silent heartache. Often a secret tear, But always "a beautiful memory Of one we loved so dear. Ever remembered by his loving brother Dick, sister-in-law Ivy, and niece Marilyn.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 26 December 1946, SMITH—In memory of dear Tom, died of wounds, December 25. 1942. 2/10th Batt. "Lest we forget." Ever remembered by Dick, Ivy and Marilyn.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 23 December 1948, SMITH—in loving memory of our dear brother, Tom, 2/10th Batt., who died of wounds Buna, Dec. 25th, 1942. Lest We Forget. Ivy Dick and family.
Murray Pioneer Thursday 22 December 1949, SMITH—In loving memory of dear Tom, who died of wounds, December 25, 1942, at Buna. "In Silence We Remember" —Ever remembered by Dick, Ivy, Marilyn and Trevor.
Dick’s wife, Ivy died in September ’86 whilst Dick lived to be 80 years old. He died on the 29th October 1992 and was interred in the Renmark Cemetery where plaques commemorate their lives.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.