Richard Wallwyn SHEPHEARD MM

SHEPHEARD, Richard Wallwyn

Service Number: VX20978
Enlisted: 30 November 1939, First joined Militia
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion
Born: Kingston on Thames, London, England, 30 November 1910
Home Town: Elwood, Port Phillip, Victoria
Schooling: Not known
Occupation: Law Clerk
Died: Killed in Action, Egypt, 12 July 1942, aged 31 years
Cemetery: El Alamein War Cemetery
Plot A I, Row H Grave 11
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

30 Nov 1939: Enlisted VX20978, First joined Militia
17 Jun 1940: Enlisted VX20978, 5th Australian Infantry Training Battalion, Signal Corps
17 Jun 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, VX20978, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion
17 Jul 1940: Transferred 2nd/40th Infantry Battalion
21 Jul 1940: Transferred 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion
5 Aug 1940: Promoted Corporal, 2nd/40th Infantry Battalion
16 Nov 1940: Embarked VX20978, HMT Strathmore
18 Nov 1940: Promoted Lance Sergeant
20 Jun 1941: Promoted Sergeant
30 Dec 1941: Honoured Military Medal, For extreme courage & coolness at Tobruk 30th April to 2nd May, 1941
14 Mar 1942: Promoted Lieutenant, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion
12 Jul 1942: Involvement Lieutenant, VX20978, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Richard Wallwyn SHEPHEARD was born in Kingston on Thames, London, England on 30th November, 1910

His parents were Lewis Wallwyn SHEPHEARD and Alice Maude STAFFORD who married in Wandsworth, London in 1899

He had 2 years previous service in 1927 with the Citizens Forces  .

He first joined the Militia on 30th November, 1939 and was transferred to the 2nd Field Battery Reserves on 1st May, 1940 - he enlisted on 17th June 1940 in Caulfield, Victoria with the Victorian Signal Corps and embarked on the HMT Strathmore on 16th November, 1940

Richard was mentioned in dispatches in 1941 and received a Military Medal on 30th December, 1941 for extreme courage and coolness at Tobruk from 30th April to 2nd May, 1941

He was Killed in Action in Egypt on 12th July, 1941 and is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery

Inscription on his headstone reads:

'DUTY NOBLY DONE"

His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in St Kilda, Victoria

 

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