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Alfred Joseph Richards

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Buried at
  
Role
  
Armed force officer

Allegiance
  
Service/branch
  

Years of service
  
1895 - 1915

Awards
  
Name
  
Alfred Richards

Alfred Joseph Richards wwwlordashcroftmedalscomwpcontentuploads2013

Battles/wars
  
World War IWorld War II

Died
  
May 21, 1953, Southfields, London, United Kingdom

Place of burial
  
Putney Vale Cemetery, London, United Kingdom

Similar People
  
Frank Edward Stubbs, Cuthbert Bromley, Bertram Best‑Dunkley, John Lynn, Harold John Colley

Battles and wars
  

Alfred Joseph Richards VC (21 June 1879 – 21 May 1953) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Richards was 35 years old, and a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 April 1915 west of Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, three companies and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, when landing on W Beach, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine-guns which caused a large number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy and, after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained.

Sergeant Richards was one of six members of the regiment elected for the award, the others being Cuthbert Bromley, John Elisha Grimshaw, William Kenealy, Frank Edward Stubbs, and Richard Raymond Willis

As a result of a wound sustained in the action he had to have his leg amputated and was discharged from the army as unfit for further service. Despite this he served in the Home Guard during World War II as a provost sergeant.

He is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery.

The Medal

His medal was purchased by Lord Ashcroft at auction in 2005

References

Alfred Joseph Richards Wikipedia


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