Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., the reverse officialy inscribed ‘460892 Pte. H. Richardson M.M.’, on silver chain, good very fine £120-£160

M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917
The original citation card states:
‘For great gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack of April 19th 1917, on the Thelus Trenches. He very materially assisted in the work of keeping the telephonic communication open, many times repairing the wires under shell fire. He otherwise assisted in keeping the Battalion in touch.’

Harry Richardson was born on 18 July 1887 at Hull, England, and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Winnipeg on 2 June 1915 and served with the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front. Richardson’s battalion fought on the northern flank of the 3rd Brigade during the celebrated attack on Vimy Ridge, 9 - 12 April 1917, achieving their objectives at the heavy price of 333 killed and wounded.

Richardson died of shrapnel wounds at No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station on 28 April 1917 and is is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.