Arthur Herbert Lindsay Richardson

Arthur Herbert Lindsay Richardson
Born 23 September 1872
Southport, Lancashire
Died 15 December 1932 (aged 60)
Liverpool, England
Buried at St James's Cemetery, Liverpool
Allegiance  British Empire
Service/branch Canadian Army
Years of service 1900 - 1902
Rank Sergeant
Unit Strathcona's Horse
Battles/wars Second Boer War
Awards Victoria Cross
Other work Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer

Arthur Herbert Lindsay Richardson VC (23 September 1872 – 15 December 1932) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1872, Richardson emigrated to Canada in 1891. After a period as a rancher, he joined the North-West Mounted Police in 1894. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1900 he joined the newly raised Strathcona's Horse.[1]

Richardson was 27 years old and a sergeant when the deed, for which he was awarded the VC, took place. His was the first Victoria Cross awarded by King Edward [2]

The commander of his unit, Lieutenant Agar Adamson, reported:[3]

On the 5th July, 1900, at Wolve Spruit, about 15 miles north of Standerton, a party of Lord Strathcona's Corps, only 38 in number, came into contact, and was engaged at close quarters, with a force of 80 of the enemy. When the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Richardson rode back under a very heavy cross-fire and picked up a trooper whose horse had been shot and who was wounded in two places and rode with him out of fire. At the time when this act of gallantry was performed, Sergeant Richardson was within 300 yards of the enemy, and was himself riding a wounded horse.[4]

Richardson was the first soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for actions committed while serving with a Canadian unit under British command.

He re-joined the NWMP in 1902 and served until ill health forced him to retire in 1907. After his wife's death in 1916, Richardson returned to Liverpool and died there in 1932.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta. His gravestone can be seen at the Liverpool Cathedral St. James Gardens.

References

  1. ↑ Kenneth Grad (2008-10-30). "Effective Leadership in Counter-Insurgency: The North-West Mounted Police in South Africa, 1899-1902". Canadian Military Journal. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  2. ↑ Edmonton Bulletin, June 10, 1901, p. 4
  3. ↑ Horn, Colonel Bernd (2007-11-15). Intrepid Warriors: Perspectives on Canadian Military Leaders. Dundurn. p. 37-38. ISBN 978-1-77070-265-3. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27229. p. 5688. 14 September 1900. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
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External links

List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients

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