Informal portrait of 115 sapper (Spr) Robert Wilfred (Will) Riches, 1st Division Signals Company ...

Informal portrait of 115 sapper (Spr) Robert Wilfred (Will) Riches, 1st Division Signals Company in his dugout in the Anzac area. A native of London, England, Spr Riches was a clerk from Torrensville, SA prior to enlistment and embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Karroo on 20 October 1914. After serving at Gallipoli, hehe served on the Western Front where he was promoted to Corporal and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal "For conspicuous good work as a motor cyclist despatch rider from 22nd September 1917 to 24th Februray 1918, particularly for his gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations east of Ypres from 22nd September to 12th October 1917. The roads over which he had to carry his despatches were much cut up by traffic and shell fire, yet in spite of the difficulties caused by the inclement weather he never once failed to deliver his despatches though at times he had to pass through heavily shelled areas to do so. He has at all times displayed considerable initiative and devotion to duty in getting his despatches through successfully." Cpl Riches returned to Australia on4 November 1918. His brother, 4503 Spr Edward Victor Riches was killed in action on 15 November 1917.