| Regimental number | 2912 |
| Place of birth | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| School | Stockton Public School; East Maitland High School, New South Wales |
| Other training | Gained 1st Class Colliery Manager's Certificate both from T.A. Southern's School of Mining, Wales, and from New South Wales Departmental Examination at 23 years. |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Woonona, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 26 |
| Height | 5' 3.25" |
| Weight | 122 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Ada Richardson, Woonona, South Coast, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 2nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/19/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 54th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Held colliery manager's certificate; also studied electrical and mechanical engineering. (details from mother) |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 27 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 9), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 159 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Robert and Ada RICHARDSON, 'Melvin', Pope's Lane, Woonona, New South Wales |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 2711 Corporal Alexander Melvin RICHARDSON, 45th Bn, returned to Australia, 24 July 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Admitted to No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 22 November 1915 (mumps); discharged to duty, 24 December 191. Joined 2nd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 6 January 1916. Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916. Promoted Corporal, 1 March 1916; Sergeant, 1 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Killed in action, 19/20 July 1916. Handwritten note on bottom of B.103, 'buried B1056 Sheet 22'. Red Cross File No 2290408: 'Pay Book found in German War Office, Berlin, Sept 1919, and forwarded ? to A.I.F. Hqrs 23.9.19.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, RICHARDSON Harold
Red Cross file 2290408 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
