Basil Frederick RICHARDS

Basil Frederick RICHARDS Update Details

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RICHARDS, Basil Frederick

Service Numbers:	W41418, WX35193
Enlisted:	5 February 1942
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	13th Field Ambulance
Born:	Karridale, Western Australia, 13 April 1913
Home Town:	Bunbury, Bunbury, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Newsagent
Died:	Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 17 March 1981, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Pemberton General Cemetery, Pemberton, Western Australia The Western Australian Garden of Remembrance
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

5 Feb 1942:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, W41418, 13th Field Ambulance
15 Nov 1942:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, W41418, 13th Field Ambulance
16 Nov 1942:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX35193
15 Jan 1946:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX35193
Date unknown:	Involvement WX35193

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Private Basil Frederick Richards (Service Nos:W41418/WX35193) initially served in the ACMF (5 February 1942 - 15 November 1942) and was 'in the field' with 13th Field Ambulance on 16 November 1942 when he enlisted in the AIF. Private Richards served in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (13 September 1944 - 17 November 1945), and was attached to 13th Field Ambulance at Discharge on 15 January 1946. Brothers Jack and Gordon also served in WWII.

Basil was born at Karridale, Western Australia in 1913, ninth of thirteen children of John Richards (b1875 in Montgomeryshire, Wales) and Eliza Ann Sutton (b1878 in Bunbury, Western Australia). John immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1878, arriving in Townsville, QLD on board the Sir William Wallace. By 1893, John had moved to Perth WA, where he was a Railways Worker (Cleaner and Fireman) before moving to Bunbury in 1897, where he worked with the Railways as a Fireman and Night Shedman. In 1899 John and Eliza married in Bunbury, and lived in the Margaret River Region (Bunbury, Busselton, Big Brook, Pemberton) where they raised their family and John was a Locomotive Driver with WAGR.

Basil worked in Pemberton as a Shop Assistant, and was a Newsagent in Bunbury when he enlisted in the Army. In 1944 in Perth, Basil married Edith Myrtle Burton (b1919 in Perth, Western Australia) - Edith had worked as a Saleswoman in Perth before enlisting in the WAAAF (Sergeant; Service No:94678). Following Discharge, Basil and Edith lived in Perth - where Basil worked as a Labourer. Basil and Edith divorced in 1955 (both remarried). Basil settled in Pemberton, where he was a Newsagent until retiring to Newcastle NSW. Basil died in 1981.

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