James Cleland Richardson
Piper, 16th Battalion Manitoba Regiment (Canadian Scottish) C E F
- Register No.
- 1048 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Piper all Pipers →
- Unit
- 16th Battalion Manitoba Regiment (Canadian Scottish) C E F (register: 16th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 8 October 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- Born
- 25th November 1895 at Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died
- 9th October 1916 at Regina trench, Somme, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Adanac Military Cemetery, France
Digest of citation
On 8th October, 1916 at Regina trench, Somme, France, the company was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire. Piper Richardson, who had obtained permission to play the company 'over-the-top' strode up and down outside the wire playing his pipes, which so inspired the company that the wire was rushed and the position captured. Later the piper was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and some prisoners, but after preceding some distance he insisted on turning back to recover its pipes which he had left behind. He was never seen again
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RICHARDSON, James Cleland (reg No. 1048)
Piper 16th Battalion Manitoba Regiment (Canadian Scottish) C E F.
Born on 25th November 1895 at Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Died on 9th October 1916 at Regina trench, Somme, France.
Memorial at Adanac Military Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 8th October, 1916 at Regina trench, Somme, France, the company was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire. Piper Richardson, who had obtained permission to play the company 'over-the-top' strode up and down outside the wire playing his pipes, which so inspired the company that the wire was rushed and the position captured. Later the piper was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and some prisoners, but after preceding some distance he insisted on turning back to recover its pipes which he had left behind. He was never seen again.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Adanac Military Cemetery, France
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