Alfred Joseph Richards
Sergeant, 1st Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 1045 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers all Lancashire Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 April 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 24th August 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Born
- 21st June 1879 at Plymouth, Devon
- Died
- 21st May 1953 at Southfields, London
- Memorial / grave
- at Putney Vale Cemetery, London
Digest of citation
On the 25th April 1915, three companies and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, whilst affecting a landing to the west of Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula, received a large number of casualties when they were met by an extremely deadly fire from hidden machine-guns. The survivors, amongst whom were, Sergeant Richards, Major Bromley, Corporal Grimshaw, Private Keneally, Sergeant Stubbs and Captain Willis, rushed forward and cut the enemy wire entanglements. In spite of the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming the uttermost difficulties, they gained the cliffs and maintained the position
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RICHARDS, Alfred Joseph. (reg No. 1045).
Sergeant. 1st Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 24th August 1915.
Born on 21st June 1879 at Plymouth, Devon.
Died on 21st May 1953 at Southfields, London.
Memorial on grave at Putney Vale Cemetery, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 25th April 1915, three companies and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, whilst affecting a landing to the west of Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula, received a large number of casualties when they were met by an extremely deadly fire from hidden machine-guns. The survivors, amongst whom were, Sergeant Richards, Major Bromley, Corporal Grimshaw, Private Keneally, Sergeant Stubbs and Captain Willis, rushed forward and cut the enemy wire entanglements. In spite of the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming the uttermost difficulties, they gained the cliffs and maintained the position.
Additional information:. This action was recorded in the newspapers as, "Five VCs before breakfast." Sergeant Richards, along with those mentioned above, were elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant of 29th January 1856. On the 30th of September 1916, he married Miss Dora Coombs, whom he'd met during his convalescence in a local hospital. The Guard of Honour, at his wedding, was formed by his wounded comrades. His right leg had to be removed owing to the severity of the wounds he'd received at Gallipoli.
Additional information
This action was recorded in the newspapers as, "Five VCs before breakfast." Sergeant Richards, along with those mentioned above, were elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant of 29th January 1856. On the 30th of September 1916, he married Miss Dora Coombs, whom he'd met during his convalescence in a local hospital. The Guard of Honour, at his wedding, was formed by his wounded comrades. His right leg had to be removed owing to the severity of the wounds he'd received at Gallipoli.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Putney Vale Cemetery, London
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