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Remembered Today:

Lt Col Jasper Myers Richardson RGA


michaeldr

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Remembered today on the G W F

from the CWGC

RICHARDSON, JASPER MYERS

Initials: J M

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Agricultural Officer)

Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery

Unit Text: V Corps.

Age: 68

Date of Death: 30/03/1918

Additional information: Son of Jasper Richardson; husband of Anne Richardson, of 49, Campden Hill Square, Kensington, London. Native of Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: XXVIII. F. 3.

Cemetery: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY

from the LG

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 MARCH, 1915

Special Appointment.

(Graded for purposes of pay as a Staff Lieutenant,

2nd Class.)

Major (Honorary Lieutenant - Colonel)

J. M. Richardson, late Northumberland

Artillery (Militia). Dated 1st March, 1915

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 28 SEPTEMBER, 1916

Welsh Heavy Battery.—Hon. Lt.-Col. (Hon.

Maj. in Army) J. M. .Richardson, late

Northumberland Artillery, to be temp. Maj.

29th Sept. 1916.

The LONDON GAZETTE, 26 JANUARY, 1917

TERRITORIAL FORCE RESERVE.

-Artillery.—Maj. J. M. Richardson, from the

R.G.A.. to be Maj. 27th Jan. 1917

Aged 68

and an Agricultural Officer (why is this mentioned next to his rank, and not, say, next to Service or Unit Text?)

There must be a story here and I do hope that this catches the eye of Dick Flory who should be able to tell us more about this artillery officer

Not forgotten

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RIP Jasper.

This is an intriguing one, I do hope the experts come up with the story.

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We have discussed this chap before.

He is mentioned in Charles Douie's The Weary Road and is possibly the oldest battlefield casualty, albeit that he did not die on the battlefields themselves. An obituary I have seen states he died of wounds.

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Somewhere I have a file of research on him, but currently no idea where!

From memory he was educated at Harrow and there is a photo/obit in there - Andy Pay may be able to help?

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Rest in Peace.

These appear to be his service records WO 374/57336 RICHARDSON, Lieut Col J M.

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Hon. Lt.-Col. Jasper Myers Richardson, RGA TF

Educated at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, leaving in 1869

Hon. Lt. Col., Retired Militia (Welch, Carnarvonshire, RGA TF)

Appointed as Staff Lieutenant, 3rd Class, on 13 June 1917

At the time of his death he was a General Staff Officer (Agriculture)

Wounded on 21 March 1918 and died of wounds on 30 March 1918

Dick Flory

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  • 4 weeks later...

quote: Aged 68, and an Agricultural Officer (why is this mentioned next to his rank, and not, say, next to Service or Unit Text?)

I still cannot think why 'Agricultural Officer' is mentioned next to his rank

however, the following citation may give a clue as to the type of work in which he was involved

Like Lt-Col Richardson, this also refers to a Royal Artillery officer, in this case, Lt-Col E W Spedding CMG.

"Flanders 1918 – This officer, in addition to the thorough performance of his normal duties, most unselfishly devoted himself to every scheme affecting economy and food supply. In the early spring the unit under his command ploughed and prepared for seed many acres of land. During the summer, while the Division was in the line near Nieppe forest, he was responsible for the rescue of an immense quantity of agricultural machines and implements from farms in the forward area. Later, he was chiefly instrumental in the harvesting of the Centre Division Area of XV Corps. Without ever waiting to be ordered or asked, Colonel Spedding has tackled every one of these labours with an unflagging zeal that has been the admiration and envy of all connected with him. (OBE 1/1/19, and Mention 23/12/18)"

[from '29th Divisional Artillery War Record and Honours Book 1915-1918' by Lt-Col R M Johnson, CMG, DSO.]

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