Frederick James Archibald "Archie" RICHARDS

Year of Birth:  1895

Place of Birth:  Townsville, Qld

Date of Enlistment:  30 December 1914

Date and Place of Embarkation:  2 June 1915

Ship:  HMAT Medic A7

Rank:  Sergeant

Unit(s):  11 Light Horse Regiment (June 1915 Reinforcements)

Regimental Number:  8

Died:  16 September 1914

Frederick James Archibald Richards known as “Archie” was born in Townsville, Qld to William Robert Richards and his wife, Minnie (nee Mastin) on 13 March 1895.  Their first son, Walter Robert was born and died 1886.

Their next son, William Robert, was born in 1888.  William Robert Richards served as a Lieutenant in the 26th Battalion, was awarded the Military Medal and returned to Australia on 13 June 1919.

Frederick James “Archie” Richards enlisted for the first time on 28 October 1914 citing 4 years as a Naval Reserve Cadet, naming his brother William Robert Richards as his next of kin.  He never reported to his unit and a notation on the enlistment papers stated “not reported father refused to consent”.  However, his father had died on 12 January 1914.

“Archie” had worked as an Electric Biograph Operator at the Cairns Palace Theatre.

He again enlisted in the 11th Light Horse A.I.F. on 30 December 1914 stating his age as 21 years 9 months.  As he was born on 13 March 1895, his true age was 19 years 6 months.  He initially named Mrs A (Cecilia) Richards of the Criterion Hotel, Cairns his next of kin.  Her address was later changed to the White Horse Hotel, Toowoomba after Alfred Frederick Richards and his wife Cecilia, left Cairns about the same time Archie enlisted.  This couple were, in fact, his uncle and aunt.

Archie also reported his height as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weight 136 lbs with a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.  He was Church of England.

He was a Private on enlistment but was promoted to Sergeant Signaller prior to embarkation on the HMAT ‘Medic” A7 from Brisbane on 2 June 1915.

HMAT Medic
Autographed photo of HMAT Medic A7 – Australian War Memorial

He transferred from 11th Light Horse to 9th Light Horse on 29 August 1915 at Gallipoli and was killed in action on 16 September 1915.  He is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

The Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing in Action Report revealed he was killed by a sniper at Mule Gulley.

His belongings were returned to Australia and delivered to his named next of kin, Mrs A (Cecilia) Richards on 8 June 1916.

A dispute over the delivery of Sgt Richard’s war medals began as Mrs Cecilia Richards died in 1920 and the medals were originally delivered to her husband and Sgt Richard’s uncle, Alfred Richards.

Archie’s mother, Minnie, now known as Mrs Wells wrote several letters claiming her son’s war medals as well has having a solicitor write on her behalf.  The matter was finally resolved on 6 June 1922 when the medals were forwarded to her.

Online Resources

National Archives of Australia
NAA: B2455 Richards, Frederick James Archibald

Australian War Memorial

National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers

Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages

Ancestry.com.au

If you have a photograph or further information about this soldier you would like to share and add to his biography, please contact the Society at projects@cdfhs.org or leave a comment below.  Thank you!

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