Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Egbert Richardson was also known as William Vivian Egbert Richardson.

William Egbert Richardson served in both the South African (Boer) war on 2 occasions, and as William Vivian Egbert Richardson in WW1 with New Zealand forces. First service was as a Private S.N. 350, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer war. Second service was as a Private S.N. 623, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft), Boer war. Third service was as a Private rising to Sergeant S.N. WW1 40159, 1st Battalion Wellington Regiment B Company, NZEF.

When he joined the 4th QIB in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as N. J. Cuzzens, Yarrantree, Cunnamulla. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 4th QIB, Bk 4 p. 39, it is noted he directed part of his pay to Miss Elizabeth Rusher, G.P.O. Brisbane. It appears he was working with the Post and Telegraph Department before enlisting. He was invalided from the 4th QIB and discharged in Brisbane in Oct 1900.

Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa. Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB.

He was, however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 61, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to John William Finlay, Bridge St, Fortitude Valley.

Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including for further service. The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 623, Private Wm. Richardson, remained in South Africa for further service. The paybooks note he was discharged in South Africa in May 1902 and that he requested forwarding of remaining pay to Miss Rusher.

He was living in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1916 when he enlisted again for WW1 with the New Zealand army. The New Zealand Attestation Form on page 10 (typed version page 17) on his service record is somewhat more detailed in information than a comparable Australian version.

On his Attestation Form, dated 28 Sep 1916, it is noted that; he was born at Rockhampton, Qld, on 10 Sep 1881; he was single and a Clerk; and he had previously served with the Qld. Imperial Bushmen and Doyle's Australian Scouts in South Africa. He suffered neurasthenia 'shell shock'  and was returned to NZ where he was discharged on 16 Jan 1919.

His WW1 Attestation Form contains some anomalies such as having been a resident of NZ for 47 years, but it is offers the only information that could be sourced. It appears that follwoing his Boer war service he travelled to and lived in various parts of the world. Prior to arriving in NZ, in about 1904, he had been employed with the Argentine Land Company in the Argentine Republic (Argentina). In NZ he worked with the Public Works Department in the Bay of Plenty and at Hamilton.

A record of his birth could not be found on the Qld BDM online birth register and so reliance is placed on the details he provided on his NZ WW1 Attestation Form. William Vivian Egbert Richardson was born on 10 Sep 1881 at Rockhampton, a son to William George Richardson and Maud Richardson. He married Harriet Brady in 1921 in New Zealand and they had 2 children.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 518; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 4 p. 39, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 61; Archives New Zealand- WW1 service record; Obituary - Waikato Times, 4 October 1944, P. 4; Death Notice - Waikato Times, , 22 September 1944, P. 2)