Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Barkly West Cemetery (S.Africa) | ||
| 2. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 23B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches | ||
Family :
Son of Mrs. and the late Mr. P. C. Richards; husband of C. W. Richards, of Kimberley. Born in England.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 9/South African Infantry |
| Action : Africa |
The East African Campaign was a series of battles and guerrilla actions which started in German East Africa (now Tanzania) and ultimately impacted portions of Mozambique, Northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. The German colonial forces, led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, skillfully fought for the duration of World War I and surrendered only after that war had ended. Other campaigns were conducted in West and South West Africa.
Detail :
East Harling Roll of Honour. Lieutenant PHILIP CHARLES RICHARDS MC Mentioned in Despatches 9th, South African Infantry who died age 33 on 12 February 1917. Son of Mrs. and the late Mr. P. C. Richards; husband of C. W. Richards, of Kimberley. Born in England. BARKLY WEST CEMETERY, North Cape, South Africa. It is suggested that he gained his MC in the fighting around Kondoa Irangi, German East Africa
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 OCTOBER, 1916. 10195 shows: "Lt. Philip Charles Richards, S. African Inf. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He moved constantly about among his men placing them so as best to repel the enemy's attack. By his fine example under heavy shell, rifle and machine-gun fire, he inspired confidence in his company, and the enemy's attack was repulsed"
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Square and Compass No. 1336 E.C. | North Wales |
| Joined : | Octahedron and Charles Warren No. 1417 E.C. | South Africa (Central) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
3rd September 1907 | 1st October 1907 | 17th March 1908 |
Philip was initiated into Square and Compass Lodge No. 1336, in Wrexham, North Wales. He stated his residence was Barkly West in South Africa and was employed with the Cape Mounted Police. It wasnt long before his membership was fragmented by periods of arrears, probably because he was out in South Africa and so resigned from this lodge 5th May 1912.
He had joined Octahedron Lodge only a month after his raising, so was back in South Africa between March and April 1908. He was less itinerant in Octahedron, paying all his dues until his death, shown in the contribution record as "Died 11 Feb 1917."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley