| Service number | 894 |
|---|---|
| Ranks Held | Lance Corporal, Private |
| Birth Place | Australia: New South Wales, Newcastle, Islington |
| Death Date | 1917-02-28 |
| Death Place | France |
| Final Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Service | Australian Imperial Force |
| Units |
|
| Places | |
| Conflict/Operation | First World War, 1914-1918 |
Lance Corporal William Arthur Leslie Richards
Description
Lance Corporal William Arthur Leslie Richards (894, 35th Battalion) was a clerk with the Northumberland Building Society in Newcastle, NSW, who enlisted in January 1916. Will was working as a batman and orderly for Captain Connell, who had been his teacher at school in Newcastle for several years. Captain Connell nicknamed Will “Gunner” and looked on Will as a younger brother. About 11 pm on 28 February 1917, a shell exploded in the company headquarters dugout in the trenches at Houplines, badly wounding Will in the lower body and legs. He died within minutes in the captain’s arms. Will was buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. He was 16 years 7 months of age.
Rolls
-
Roll of Honour:
- Unit
- 35th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lance Corporal
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
First World War Nominal Roll:
- Unit
- 35th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lance Corporal
-
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files:
- Unit
- 35th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lance Corporal
Timeline
| Date of enlistment | 05 January 1916 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date of embarkation | 01 May 1916 | |
| Date of death | 28 February 1917 | |
| Date returned to Australia | 28 February 1917 |