Private Thomas Alexander Richards

Thomas Alexander Richards was born in London, Ontario, on 25 March 1920, the son of Alexander Richards and Eliza Charlotte Richards. He grew up in the Ormstown area and attended Ormstown Consolidated School. Before the war he worked with harness horses, as a teamster and as a farm labourer. He enjoyed photography, running, horseback riding, fishing and soccer, and played the drum. He enlisted in the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada at Montreal on 9 September 1939, service number D81197. After training in Canada, including Toronto and Valcartier, he served in Newfoundland from June to August 1940. He sailed from Halifax on 22 August and reached Gourock, Scotland, on 4 September 1940. He served for a period as a Trooper with 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron before returning to the Black Watch in January 1941. He worked as a bass drummer in the pipe band and later qualified as a first-class sniper after a Sniping and Scouting course in May 1944. Richards landed in France on 6 July 1944. On 25 July he was wounded by high-explosive fragments and captured near Caen, in the Fleury-sur-Orne area. His wounds included a serious injury to his left forearm, which required prolonged treatment during captivity. He was held at Stalag IV B in Germany as prisoner 85750. He suffered pleurisy in March 1945 and was liberated on 23 April. He was officially reported safe in the United Kingdom on 29 May 1945 and examined at No. 4 Canadian General Hospital for the painful scar left by his forearm wound. He returned to Canada in July and was discharged as a Private at Wolseley Barracks, London, on 17 September 1945 on demobilization. His wartime awards were the 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939–45. He received General Service War Service Badge 230401. Richards married Anna Gertrude Grey in London on 8 October 1945. He subsequently worked in printing, as a postmaster, as a bank messenger and guard, and as a Canadair security policeman. He continued in the militia with field ambulance and infantry units, then re-enrolled in the Regular Army in September 1954. He served with the Canadian Guards and returned to the Black Watch, including a tour in Germany from 1959 to 1962. He was released as a Corporal in April 1964 and later served with 3 RCR in the militia. He received the Canadian Forces' Decoration and the Special Service Medal for NATO service. In later life he lived at Elora and Providence Bay and was a member and Sergeant-at-Arms of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 229, Elora. Anna died in October 1994, and he married Carmen Ellen Legate on 15 June 1996. Thomas Alexander Richards died at Wellington Terrace Nursing Home, Elora, on 3 May 2001, aged 81. His funeral was held on 7 May, and he was buried in Elora Cemetery.

1920-03-25 — Born in London, Ontario, son of Alexander Richards and Eliza Charlotte Richards
1935 — Completed Grade 5 at Ormstown Consolidated School; illness had interrupted his education; Ormstown, Quebec.
1935 to 1939 — Worked with harness horses, as a bush teamster and on dairy and other farms; employers included D. J. McEwan and J. Dupuis at Ormstown and Montreal Stables; Ormstown / Montreal, Quebec; Ontario.
1939-09-05 — Joined the Black Watch according to the existing CWVMP account; formal enlistment and acceptance documented on 9 September; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-09-09 — Attested as Private D81197 in 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, CASF; farmer/teamster, single, Church of England; home Box 138, Ormstown; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-09-09 — Enlistment medical category A; height 68.5 inches, weight 126 pounds, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark-brown hair; chest entries differ between copies; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-10-20 — Signed supplementary undertaking for service anywhere in Canada or overseas for the war and demobilization; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-11-20 — Reported chest pain and referred to D.P. & N.H. Clinic; later chest X-ray negative on 30 November; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-12-19 — Reported vomiting induced by coughing; clinic advised a few days' leave; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-12-29 — Arrived with the Black Watch at Toronto; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-01-08 — Dental examination and treatment planning recorded; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-01-13 to 1940-01-18 — Admitted to 15th General Hospital for acute pharyngitis and acne; discharged cured to unit; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-02-21 to 1940-03-21 — Signed for replacement of a lost web waist belt; recovery by stoppage from March pay arranged; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-03-14 to 1940-03-28 — Granted fourteen days' furlough; a duplicate describes 16–30 March; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-05-20 to 1940-05-22 — Granted 48 hours' embarkation leave; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-05-27 — Awarded five days confined to barracks and forfeited two days' pay for absence without leave, 22–24 May; Valcartier, Quebec.
1940-06-13 — Dental extraction under local anaesthesia recorded; Valcartier, Quebec.
1940-06-17 to 1940-06-22 — Embarked at Quebec aboard Antonia on 17 June and disembarked at Botwood, Newfoundland, on 22 June; Quebec, Quebec; Botwood, Newfoundland.
1940-06-27 — Awarded eight days confined to barracks and forfeited six days' pay for absence without leave, 11–17 June; Newfoundland Airport, Newfoundland.
1940-08-10 to 1940-08-13 — Embarked at Botwood aboard Duchess of Richmond on 10 August; movement form records Halifax disembarkation on 13 August and onward movement to M.D. 6 Infantry Training Centre, Aldershot; another copy gives 15 August; Botwood, Newfoundland; Halifax / Aldershot, Nova Scotia.
1940-08-22 to 1940-09-04 — Embarked at Halifax on 22 August, taken on overseas strength on 23 August and disembarked at Gourock on 4 September; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Gourock, Scotland, United Kingdom.
1940-09-13 to 1940-09-14 — Transferred from the Black Watch at Aldershot to 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron; recorded as Trooper from 14 September; Aldershot, England, United Kingdom.
1940-09-27 to 1940-10-02 — Granted landing leave with 5 Reconnaissance Squadron; England, United Kingdom.
1940-12-04 to 1941-01-06 — Sick-parade records note influenza; medicine and rest prescribed; England, United Kingdom.
1940-12-19 — Dental extraction recorded while with the reconnaissance squadron; England, United Kingdom.
1940-12-23 to 1940-12-29 — Granted privilege leave at own expense; England, United Kingdom.
1941-01-09 — Awarded seven days confined to barracks and forfeited four days' pay for absence without leave, 29 December 1940–2 January 1941; England, United Kingdom.
1941-01-18 to 1941-01-19 — Returned from 5 Reconnaissance Squadron to 1st Battalion Black Watch as Private; England, United Kingdom.
1941-01-19 to 1941-02-07 — Admitted to No. 15 General Hospital, Bramshott, with laryngitis and functional dyspepsia; gastrointestinal X-rays showed no disease; Bramshott, England, United Kingdom.
1941-02-07 to 1941-02-18 — Convalesced at No. 1 Convalescent Depot, Brixham; symptom-free and returned to unit; Brixham, England, United Kingdom.
1941-03-17 to 1941-03-24 — Admitted to Canadian Medical Centre with pharyngitis and cervical adenitis; discharged cured with seven days' light duty; Bordon, England, United Kingdom.
1941-04-30 — Next of kin changed to mother Eliza Charlotte Richards, 364 Rectory Street, London, Ontario
1941-05-26 to 1941-05-31 — Short attachment to a rear-party establishment recorded at Canadian Training School; exact attached-unit abbreviation unclear; Bordon, England, United Kingdom.
1941-07-03 to 1941-07-07 — Attached to Liverpool Scottish battalion rear party; a duplicate gives a longer Liverpool Scottish attachment extending to September; England, United Kingdom.
1941-07-04 — Fourteen days' privilege leave recorded in a duplicate ledger; England, United Kingdom.
1941-07-29 to 1941-08-12 — Granted privilege leave; dental re-examination recorded on 30 July; England, United Kingdom.
1941-10-23 to 1941-10-30 — Granted privilege leave; England, United Kingdom.
1941-12-30 — Awarded fourteen days confined to barracks and forfeiture totalling twenty days' pay for absence without leave; duplicate conduct record has a January 1942 award for apparently related absence; England, United Kingdom.
1942 — Sustained right-thigh injury in England; 1945 history described a slit-trench fall onto a stone, whereas later medical boards called it a shrapnel wound; England, United Kingdom.
1942-01-17 — Duplicate conduct sheet records fourteen days confined to barracks for five days' absence; exact relationship to December 1941 award unresolved; England, United Kingdom.
1942-01-17 to 1942-01-28 — Privilege leave appears in a duplicate service ledger; England, United Kingdom.
1942-02-18 — Dental extraction entries differ as to year, 1941 or 1942; England, United Kingdom.
1942-05-15 — Seven days' privilege leave recorded; another ledger gives 23 May as commencement; England, United Kingdom.
1942-06-16 — Attached to Lorne Scots Training Battalion; copies vary between 14 and 26 June for initial attachment; England, United Kingdom.
1942-06-23 to 1942-07-27 — Rations, quarters and discipline attachment to Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada recorded; exact initial unit wording differs between ledgers; England, United Kingdom.
1942-08-10 to 1942-08-17 — Granted privilege leave; England, United Kingdom.
1942-10-23 — Mother's next-of-kin address changed to 662 Queens Avenue, London, Ontario
1942-11-07 — Dental restorations recorded; England, United Kingdom.
1942-11-09 to 1942-11-16 — Granted privilege leave; England, United Kingdom.
1943-01-13 — Awarded seven days confined to barracks and monetary stoppage under an Army Act provision; copies differ on date, section and amount; England, United Kingdom.
1943-02-08 to 1943-02-17 — Granted privilege leave; England, United Kingdom.
1943-02-24 to 1943-05-15 — Attached for all purposes to 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit; duplicate ledger gives 15 March as cessation date; England, United Kingdom.
1943-05-18 — Granted nine days' privilege leave; England, United Kingdom.
1943-07-05 — Occupational history recorded fluent English, Ormstown residence and no dependants; England, United Kingdom.
1943-08-21 — Dental extraction recorded; England, United Kingdom.
1943-09-25 to 1943-10-29 — Admitted to No. 8 Canadian General Hospital for infectious hepatitis; transferred administratively to 5 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit on 26 September; discharged with one week light duty; United Kingdom.
1943-10-30 — Personnel interview recorded farm and teamster experience, drumming and photography, running, horseback riding, fishing and soccer; United Kingdom.
1943-11-24 — Dental work recorded while with 5 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit; United Kingdom.
1943-11-25 to 1943-11-26 — Returned from 5 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit to 1st Battalion Black Watch; United Kingdom.
1943-12-30 — Awarded first Good Conduct Badge; United Kingdom.
1944-01-15 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp recorded; United Kingdom.
1944-02-09 to 1944-02-14 — Granted privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1944-03-17 to 1944-03-21 — Attached for all purposes to an infantry reinforcement unit, read as 1 C.I.R.U.; duplicate mentions Buffs; United Kingdom.
1944-03-22 to 1944-04-19 — Attached to London Command for all purposes except pay; London, England, United Kingdom.
1944-04-19 to 1944-04-22 — Evacuated through 18 Canadian Field Ambulance to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital for non-specific urethritis; struck off strength to X.3 List; United Kingdom.
1944-04-22 to 1944-04-28 — Transferred to No. 1 Canadian Special Hospital; discharged to 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit with seven days' light duty; United Kingdom.
1944-05-07 to 1944-05-27 — Completed Sniping and Scouting Course 1259, Serial 1, Canadian Training School; first-class range classification, 62/85; described as dependable and capable with a rifle; United Kingdom.
1944-06-17 — Transfer from 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit to a battalion of 2 Canadian Base Reinforcement Group recorded; duplicate places this on 7–8 June; United Kingdom.
1944-06-21 to 1944-06-26 — Served on Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps strength before return to Black Watch; one ledger mentions 2 Canadian Corps Defence Company; United Kingdom.
1944-06-27 — Taken on strength of 1st Battalion Black Watch from Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps; United Kingdom.
1944-07 to 1944-11 — Captivity medical history records prolonged hospital treatment for infected forearm wound, with repeated operations and healing over about four months; Stalag IV B, Germany.
1944-07-01 — Awarded five days confined to barracks for two hours' absence, 2300 on 30 June to 0100 on 1 July; United Kingdom.
1944-07-05 to 1944-07-06 — Embarked in United Kingdom on 5 July and disembarked in France on 6 July with the Black Watch; United Kingdom; France.
1944-07-25 — Wounded by high-explosive fragments and taken prisoner near Caen, including a serious left-forearm wound; medical history gives capture on 25 July; Caen / Fleury-sur-Orne, France.
1944-07-28 — Reported missing in action; transferred to X.6 prisoner/missing list effective 29 July; France.
1944-08-08 — Unit reported no personal effects recovered owing to battle conditions; paybook presumed carried by soldier; France.
1944-08-09 — Casualty telegram notified Eliza C. Richards that her son was missing; initial wife designation was subsequently corrected; London, Ontario.
1944-09-09 to 1944-09-18 — POW letters from Stalag IV B gave prisoner number 85750; mother's November letter reported his message that he was well; Stalag IV B, Germany.
1944-10-03 — Directorate of Records confirmed Eliza C. Richards was his mother, correcting wife designation; status still officially missing pending confirmation; Ottawa, Ontario; London, Ontario.
1944-10-15 — Records office replied to mother's reports of Berlin broadcasts, explaining POW confirmation was still awaited; Ottawa, Ontario; London, Ontario.
1944-10-20 to 1944-10-23 — Reported wounded prisoner of war on indirect information; mother notified on 23 October; Germany; London, Ontario.
1944-11-08 to 1944-11-26 — Postal intercepts and family letter confirmed Stalag IV B, POW 85750; Records advised mother and insurer; Stalag IV B, Germany; London, Ontario.
1945-03 — Suffered pleurisy while captive; two weeks in bed followed by chest pain that resolved; Stalag IV B, Germany.
1945-04-23 — Liberated from captivity, according to post-liberation medical record; reported no forced march or hard labour; Germany.
1945-05-27 — Received travel advances in Brussels while returning from captivity; registration card issued by No. 3 Sub Unit Leave Unit, 21 Army Group; Brussels, Belgium.
1945-05-29 — Officially safe in United Kingdom; admitted to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital for ex-POW examination and tender forearm scar
1945-05-30 — Declined Canadian Far East Force service; preferred reallocation according to service requirements, then Occupation Force; United Kingdom.
1945-06-02 to 1945-06-03 — Medical board found slight residual left-forearm disability and recommended review in three months; discharge notification dated 2 June, with 3 June on movement ledger; United Kingdom.
1945-06-24 to 1945-06-26 — Transferred from No. 1 Canadian Reception Depot to No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot; counselled on 26 June about mining employment and obtaining a farm under Veterans' Land Act; United Kingdom.
1945-07-11 — Dental extraction recorded at No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot; United Kingdom.
1945-07-16 to 1945-07-23 — Struck off Canadian Army Overseas strength on 16 July, taken on No. 4 District Depot strength on 17 July and reported at Montreal South on 23 July; United Kingdom; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-07-23 to 1945-09-03 — Granted repatriation leave with ration allowance; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-09-05 — Applied for discharge in London rather than Montreal to join his new home; demobilization medical board found no continuing treatment necessary, with profile 1111111 approved on 14 September; London, Ontario; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-09-06 to 1945-09-12 — Transferred from No. 4 District Depot to No. 1 District Depot; receiving entries vary between 7 and 12 September; Montreal South, Quebec; London, Ontario.
1945-09-14 — Discharge interview recorded plan to marry a soldier's widow and pool funds to buy a 100-acre farm; referred to V.L.A. and National Selective Service; London, Ontario.
1945-09-14 — Dental release assessment required twenty extractions and complete acrylic dentures; London, Ontario.
1945-09-17 — Discharged as Private at No. 1 District Depot, Wolseley Barracks, to return to civil life on demobilization; issued General Service War Service Badge 230401, $100 clothing allowance and rehabilitation grant; London, Ontario.
1945-10-08 — Married Anna Gertrude Grey at St. Matthew's Anglican Church; certificate establishes marriage after wartime discharge; London, Ontario.
1945-11-05 to 1945-11-07 — War-service gratuity calculated at $1,166.91 gross for 2,168 qualifying days and 1,765 overseas days; $70.80 deducted, leaving $1,096.11 in fourteen stated instalments of $78.29; London, Ontario.
1945-11-22 — Joined 15 Field Ambulance, RCAMC, Reserve Force, as Private A571248; London, Ontario.
1945-11-30 — Army returned will made on 9 September 1939; London, Ontario.
1947 to 1954 — Worked as printer/pressman, Elm Tree postmaster, Bank of Montreal messenger/guard and Canadair security policeman; continued militia service; London / Elm Tree, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec.
1947-03-14 — Director of Records confirmed five campaign awards and sent available ribbons; declined Canadian Efficiency Medal because no prewar militia membership was recorded; London, Ontario.
1950-08-03 — Corrected wartime discharge certificate issued to include all campaign medals; Montreal, Quebec.
1954-09-10 — Re-enrolled in Canadian Army Regular as SD81197 with Canadian Guards; later returned to Black Watch and served in Germany, 1959–1962; Montreal, Quebec; Germany.
1957-04-01 — Receipt of Canadian Forces' Decoration acknowledged following approval in 1957; Petawawa, Ontario.
1964-04-08 — Later Regular Army engagement ended with medical release as Corporal, distinct from the 1945 demobilization; Gagetown, New Brunswick.
1966-04-28 to 1967-10-25 — Served again in Canadian Army Militia with 3 RCR at London; later recollection claimed Reserve connection to 1972; London, Ontario.
1994-10-27 — Wife Anna died at Fergus; funeral on 31 October followed by cremation at Guelph; Fergus / Guelph, Ontario.
1995-01-22 — Designated Royal Canadian Legion Branch 229, Elora, as supplementary death-benefit beneficiary; later served as branch Sergeant-at-Arms; Elora, Ontario.
1995-05 — Six medals stolen from apartment; later requested replacements; Elora, Ontario.
1995-08-21 — National Defence confirmed award of Special Service Medal for NATO service; Elora, Ontario.
1996-02-29 to 1996-05-23 — Swore medal-theft declaration; replacement CD sent on 2 May; wartime medal replacement inquiry forwarded to Veterans Affairs on 23 May; Elora / Ottawa, Ontario.
1996-06-15 — Married Carmen Ellen Legate at Royal Canadian Legion, Elora; Elora, Ontario.
1997-05-13 to 1997-06-04 — Elected pension survivor coverage for Carmen; correspondence addressed to General Delivery, Providence Bay; Providence Bay, Ontario.
2001-05-03 — Died aged 81 at Wellington Terrace Nursing Home, Elora, Centre Wellington; funeral-home certificate and pension records establish date; Elora, Ontario.
2001-05-07 — Funeral held and buried at Elora Cemetery, as certified by Graham A. Giddy Funeral Homes; Elora, Ontario.
2002-04 to 2002-05 — Survivor-benefit administration and $5,000 supplementary death benefit payable to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 229 followed notification of death; Elora / Fergus, Ontario.