Obituary MR E. E. RICHARDS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29778, 22 March 1962, Page 14

Obituary MR E. E. RICHARDS

Mr Edwin Ernest Richards, who died at his home in Christchurch yesterday at the age of 46, had a distinguished career in the Army in the Second World War, during which he was commanding officer of the 26th Battalion. Mr Richards was born in Kumara, and before the war worked in Nelson as a civil servant. He served in the Territorial Force there and was commissioned in the Nel-son-Marlborough-West Coast Regiment in 1938. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, he joined the 2nd N.Z.E.F., and left with the 23rd Battalion as a lieutenant, sailing with the Second Echelon. He served with the battalion in the Greece, Crete and Western Desert campaigns. As a major and a company commander, he later went to the 26th Battalion. He was second-in-command before taking over command in Italy as a lieutenantcolonel, and commanded the battalion in the battle for Cassino.

For gallant and distinguished service in Italy, Mr Richards was awarded the D.S.O. He was mentioned in dispatches twice, and in 1953 was awarded the 0.8. E. After the war Mr Richards retained his interest in the Army and for some time commanded his old unit, the Ist Battalion of the Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast Regiment. Later he was appointed Colonel of the Regiment. Mr Richards worked with the Rehabilitation Department in Nelson, and was then secretary-manager of the Nelson Returned Services’ Association before coming to Christchurch about five years ago as a company secretary.

He is survived by his wife and two sons and a daughter.