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Services Beyond the Call of Duty
William Richardson was born in Sunniside on the 25th of August 1905. He married Ethel Miller in Christ Church, Dunston in 1927; they were married for fifty-four years, having one daughter Thelma. William died in 1982 at the age of seventy-seven.
He was a motor vehicle engineer for Northern General Transport Company in Bensham, Gateshead. William and a group of his friends and acquaintances from Northern General Transport Company joined the T.A prior to the outbreak of the Second World War so when the call for recruitment came, they were amongst the first to sign up for the services. He would serve with the 8th army, working in REME, rising to the position of Sergeant Major.
He was one of the last people to leave Dunkirk. Back in Dover they received a wonderful welcome home. According to Mr Richardson, they would have thought they had actually won the war instead of losing it.
William served in the British Expeditionary Force in France and later with the 1st and 8th Armies in North Africa and Italy.
He was a Warrant Officer (Class One) Armament Artificer in a large Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Field Workshop, under the command of Brigadier W S Tope.
William rode on his motorbike scouting, this was ahead of the General Army, for places to set up workshops to enable REME to repair all the broken vehicles, tanks, lorries, etc. which could be repaired. A couple of times William went over enemy lines. This allowed him to advise the army of the dangers ahead. He warned them about pulling back a little because he didn't want them to lose the workshops.
The men of REME were the first in the camps, they were able to notify the army of fairly safe places to stay: and then when the Army was finished, REME had to blast everything, they destroyed equipment to prevent the Germans from using it; cleared up and got away on their motorbikes as fast as they could. These men were the first in and the last out; they really were on the front line of the war.
When they were departing Salerno Landing, William and his colleagues should have left on the second last boat, but because of orders requesting them to stay, they actually left on the very last boat. To their shock and horror, they discovered that the 2nd last boat had been sunk.
They passed a lot of casualities from the sunken boat on their way out, the men were struggling in very oily waters; William and his fellow soldiers helped with the rescue of those who were still alive.
Mr.William Richardson was not only mentioned twice in Despatches, the first 'mention' being gained for his work in North Africa and the second for the Salerno Landing; he was also awarded an MBE, (Member of the British Empire) for distinguished Conduct and services beyond the call of duty whilst serving with his regiment, the 8th Army.
The letter from the War Office telling Thelma's father that he had been awarded the M.B.E was written by Colonel J.C. Elwes Directorate of Mechanical Engineering Allied Force Headquarters CMF on the 23rd of June 1945, and was published in the London Gazette on the 28th of June 1945.
It stated: -
The Under-Secretary of State for War presents his compliments and by Command of the Army Council has the honour to transmit the enclosed Awards granted for services during the war of 1939-45 It is noted from records held by this office that you have been awarded the MBE, Africa Star, with 1st Army Clasp, 1939-45 Star. B.E.F. 12th September 1939 to 19th June 1940, Italy Star...C.M.F. 10th April 1944 to 8th May 1945.
Comments
Excellent work!
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Thanks for your kind comment Peter.
Posted by: Peter Bolger at December 13, 2005 10:46 AM