William Ethelbert Richardson

Paul R. Hughes

Private 670, Royal Warwickshire Regiment Captain, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Born: 1895

William was born in the registration district of Prescot in Lancashire in 1895 and was the eldest son of Rev. James and Louisa C. E. Richardson. In 1901 the family were living at the Vicarage in Aston Magna and James was a Church of England clergyman.

William was educated at Campden Grammar School and when the war started he enlisted as a private in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. After a period of training in England he arrived in France on 21 November 1915 and was invalided home in September 1916 after being wounded in action during the Battle of the Somme.

He obtained a commission and returned to France as a second lieutenant. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry while attached to the 14th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The citation was published in the London Gazette on 1 February 1919: “This officer was in charge of the counter-attack company during the fighting at Gouzeaucourt on 27 September 1918, and when the enemy had forced their way into our left he got his men up with amazing speed under heavy fire, and choosing the most important point, led an attack, which was successful. His cool gallantry at a critical moment inspired confidence in all ranks.”

William reached the rank of captain before he was discharged from the army.

This page was added on 20/04/2014.

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