Notes by Mollie Smith
Private Dennis W. Richardson
Died May 8th, 1944 aged 26 - Commemorated Kohima Military Cemetery and Memorial Burma.
Dennis was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Richardson, of 8 Midland Road, Rushden. He had a younger sister Barbara.
Dennis was in the 2nd Battalion who heroically fought in the battles to route the 31st Japanese Division.
A memorial to the fallen men of the 2nd. Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment was unveiled on the 22nd October 1944 on Impal Road.
The Memorial erected and dedicated to the memory of the men of the 2nd Division who fell in the Battle of Kohima and was unveiled on 18th November 1944 at the opening of the Impal Road Memorial.
Dennis is buried in Kohima Military Cemetery. The War Graves photograph was taken on 2nd February 1947.
|
Rushden Echo & Argus, 16th June 944, transcribed by Clive Wood
Rushden soldier died rescuing a comrade, a brave act in Burma
In the performance of "an extremely brave act" Pte Dennis William Richardson, of Rushden, has lost his life while fighting on the Burma front. His parents Mr & Mrs A W Richardson of 8 Midland Road, were recently informed that he was missing believed killed, but a Major of the Regiment has now sent the news that he was killed while attempting to bring in a wounded man.
"It was an extremely brave act on his part", wrote the officer, going out as he did with three other chaps, all volunteers for the job. They got in one man and went out again in the early morning mist to try and find another. With a companion, a Private Day, they were caught suddenly by a burst of Japanese machine-gun fire at a range of 20 yards and were killed instantly." The soldiers have been buried side by side where they fell. Extending sympathy to Pte. Richardson’s parents, the officer says they every reason to be proud of their son.
Pte Richardson was 26 years of age. He was educated at the Intermediate School and was a member of St Peter’s Church. A plasterer by trade, he worked for a number of local firms in the district and at Birmingham. He joined the Army in February 1940, and went overseas a little over two years ago. His parents have one other child, a daughter.
|
