Rodger Bede Richards

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 12/04/2015 - 11:59

First Name:

Rodger

Middle Name:

Bede

Last Name:

Richards

Date of Birth:

Monday, July 13, 1885

Mother's Name:

Caroline (nee Vincent)

Father's Name:

James Richards

Date Enlisted:

Monday, August 17, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

3rd Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

Private Rodger Richards (Service no. 177) was born on 13th July, 1885 and attended Unanderra Public School and at the time of enlistment was described as a single 29 year old labourer. Rodger was one of the first to enlist and as such would have considered himself one of the lucky ones.

He embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides on 19th October, 1914 with A coy 3rd Battalion. After training in Egypt he sailed to Gallipoli and landed on 25th April, 1915. He was evacuated to hospital with dysentery but returned to the peninsula only to be evacuated again because of illness. This time he ended up in England. He rejoined his unit in France in 1916.

In July 1916 while at Pozieres Rodger was wounded by a hand grenade which injured his left knee. This was near the end of his fighting and after various postings in England he was returned to Australia in October, 1918 and discharged medically unfit on 11th March, 1919.

Rodger Richards is remembered on the Unanderra School Roll of Honour.