3960195 RSM Leslie RICHARDS, MiD, Croix de Guerre, 4th Welch Regiment

Leslie Richards
A Territorial and Regular Regimental Sergeant Major of the Welch Regiment.

Number 3960195.
Pre war service in the 4th Bn, Welch Regiment (T.A.)
On the breakout of war was embodied as a Sergeant. Rapidly rose to C.S.M. and by 1943 was promoted R.S.M.
Served North West Europe with the 4th and was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm. R.S.M. of the 4th on disbandment.
Post war he returned to UK and in 1948 again joined the 4th Bn Welch Regt (T.A.) on the Permanent Staff at Llanelly and remained with them until 1951.
Appointed R.S.M. to the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment at Colchester in 1951, taking over from R.S.M. Visick. RSM of the 1st Bn throughout the Korean Campaign.
16 November 1952 he was present at the Memorial Service at the United Nations Military Cemetery, Pusan, when the 1st Bn, Welch Regt paraded to honour the 30 comrades killed in action in Korea..
During his long period as RSM he has always played a major part in the upholding and maintaining the finest traditions of the Regiment by his own personal example. He is a very keen sportsman and played rugby regularly for the 4th Bn in B.A.O.R. He was very popular with the troops and he had the happy knack of being able to get the best out of them at all times. They liked working for him. He had a great sense of what was right and proper and he never spared himself on behalf of the Regiment he loved very dearly. He was extremely smart in his appearance and a first class drill instructor. He ran a very happy Sergeants Mess. A great deal of the honour that the Battalion gained in Korea and Hong Kong can be directly attributed to RSM Richards personal example and outstanding devotion to duty. Alas, it was this devotion to duty that has to a large extent been responsible for his present illness because he would not give in.
Since his return home from Korea, he had been seriously ill, so much so that he has to give up his appointment as RSM of the 1st Bn, being replaced by RSM C. Dewar of the Welsh Guards. (1955)
He underwent two very serious operations in St Mark’s Hospital in London and on recovery was to take up the appointment of RSM of the Regimental Depot.
He did not recover and was discharged. On the 9th December 1955 he took up the civilian post of Junior Clerk in the Orderly Room of the 4th Battalion at Llanelly,

Honours and awards:
1939-45 Star
France & Germany Star
Defence Medal,
War Medal 1939-45 with Mention in Despatches oakleaf,
Korea Medal
U.N. Korea Medal
Coronation 1953 Medal
Efficiency Medal clasp “Territorial”(GVI Ind Imp), awarded 31.7.1946.
Belgium Croix de Guerre with Palm.

(2 medal groups extant- one in Welch Regt Museum which is missing the Efficiency Medal clasp Territorial and one in a private collection which is missing the Korea Medal)

3960195 Regimental Sergeant Major Leslie Richards, 4th Bn Welch Regt.
160 Brigade, 53rd Division, 1 Corps.
Army Form W3121.
Recommendation for Award: Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium) by Major C.W.A. Bath, commanding 4th Bn, Welch R., sent to Brigade 5.10.1945; Division 12.10.1945; Corps 12.10.1945.

Citation:
During the Ardennes campaign in January 1945 RSM L Richards was CSM of “D” Company, 4th Bn The Welch Regiment. On 8th January 1945 the Battalion attacked and threw back the enemy on the mountains south of Hotton, Belgium. The weather was extremely severe and well below freezing point. The line of advance to the Company objective was over difficult and open ground constantly swept by enemy machine gun and artillery fire. Under these conditions, only heroic leadership could maintain the momentum of the attack. RSM Richards proved the inspiration of the attack. Time and time again he struggled through the snow from Platoon to Platoon to prevent the men from straggling and to urge them forward despite the severity of the weather and terribly hard going. During the whole of this time he was passing through heavy MG and artillery fire, but he entirely ignored his own personal danger. Upon reaching the objective, one section fell back in the face of heavy fire from an enemy MG post that was causing casualties but once again RSM Richards was first there to encourage them forward until the MG post was destroyed. Two days before he had shown the same bravery and gallant leadership when the Battalion recaptured another position nearby after an enemy counter attack had forced back another Battalion.
Throughout the whole period that the Battalion were in the Ardennes both in this area and at Rochfort, RSM Richards had completely ignored all hardships under intense cold and severe conditions and he never failed to encourage the men to success. Night and day, he put aside his personal discomfort and danger in his endeavour to do his utmost to assist in the breaking of the German Ardennes offensive. A great deal of the success of the Company was due to unsparing efforts of this gallant Warrant Officer.

Public Record Office Reference: WO 373/111/2 Bundle 1.

The award of the Belgium Croix de Guerre with Palm was promulgated in the London Gazette 17.10.1946 p5141.
War Office, 11th October, 1946.
The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing of the following decorations which have been conferred on the undermentioned personnel in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies: —
Decorations Conferred By His Royal Highness The Prince Regent Of Belgium.
Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
No. 3960195 Warrant Officer Class I Leslie RICHARDS, The Welch Regiment.

 

He was my Grandfather who nearly all his children and grandchildren never met.

This wonderful to read and it has been shared with the whole family who all still live in and around Llanelli.

If anybody needs more information or has more information, please let me know.

His Grandson.

Leslie Richard Craig Jones

 

Lovely. Thanks for sharing. Do you know whether he was with the Battalion in early March 45? A lot of men were on leave at the time and the 4 Welch had a stinker of a battle at Alpen (Alpon) overlook.

 

Aljones,

Not sure why you've copied Spiker's opening post, he was last logged in September 2024. You can send him a Private Message (PM) as you have more x5 posts.

 

Hi Everyone
I thought I would post the May 1945 full transcript of the 4th Welch Battalion War Diary in case of interest regarding the 80th VE Anniversary. I am working on Nov 1944 to April 1945 diaries and will publish them later on. In memory of my late father who was a Private in the 4th Welch and his brave comrades. NB I done this as accurately as I can but there might be some errors.

4th Bn The Welch Regiment

1st May 1945– 31st May 1945

Appendices - None included

** Not for commercial use**

LOCATION WINSEN - 1/5/45

0600 No change to Battalion positions. Patrolling night 30 Apr/1 May. NIL reports.

No activity by enemy during night.

Patrolling night 1/2 May as attached programme.

2/5/45

0600 Positions unchanged, no activity to report. Patrols during night. NEGATIVE report.

1800 Considerable number of prisoners of war being brought in. Most prisoners of war are in civilian clothes and in possession of discharge papers dated 30 Apr.

Patrolling night 2/3 May as attached programme.

3/5/45


0600 Positions unchanged patrols night 2/3 NEGATIVE reports.

0900 CO to HQ 160 Brigade. HAMBURG to surrender to BRITISH forces at 1300 hrs today. 53rd Div to occupy. No move for Battalion before 040700N

4/5/45

0600 No change Battalion Positions. Advance party KINGS Regt (1 Force) arrived to take over WINSEN area.
1200 Responsibility for WINSEN area passes to KINGS Regt.

Battalion to be formed up in TCVs to move 1400hrs, Battalion now to take over DOCK area of HAMBURG until arrival of MARINE force.

1405 Battalion moving. Routes – Road junction 644330 - STELLE 5834 - MASCHEN 5335 – HITTFELD 4934- SINSTORF 4939 – WILSTORF 5041 - HAMBURG 4943 - bridge 503445 - Battalion DP. Order of March - A Company, C Company, Battalion HQ/HQ Company/RAP, Support Company, B Company, D Company.

LOCATION ‘SS VERNDAN’ - 4/5/45

1900 Battalion in position. Battalion HQ on board SS VERNDAN at 471515. Considerable number of prisoners of war surrendering to Companies including complete crew of "U" boat. No incidents during occupation of Battalion area.

5/5/45

0600 No change to report. Companies now controlling VPs (Vital points) and DUMPS in area Battalion layout as shown on trace area.

1800 Day spent in clearing area of prisoners of war and civilians. Recce party 30 ROYAL MARINES (RM) arrive 060900B.

6/5/45

0600 Position unchanged. Harbour party 4 WELCH left for HAMBURG area.

1200 Advance party 30 RM not yet arrived. Harbour party 4 WELCH recalled.

1410 Advance party 30 (RM) Battalion arriving. Battalion to concentrate SS VERNDAM to await orders to move.
1700 30 Battalion (RM) commenced taking over. Companies to come in to SS VERNDAM on relief.
2100 Taking over completed, responsibility for DOCK area passes to 30 Battalion ROYAL MARINES

7/5/45

0600 Battalion still concentrated aboard SS VERNDAM. Officially informed that UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER of ALL GERMAN ARMED FORCES will take effect as from 082400B.

8/5/45

0600 Battalion to have one day's holiday in celebration of surrender of enemy.
Battalion to clean up and return to peacetime standards.

9/5/45

0600 Still concentrated aboard ship. No move at present.


10/5/45

0600 As above.
1400 CO to HQ 160 Brigade.
1800 CO's conference. Battalion to move to NW HAMBURG, probable length of stay
five days' when Battalion will move to SCHLESWIG – HOLSTEIN to assist 7 Armed Div disarm and disband German forces in that area and DENMARK.

11/5/45

0600 Recce party under command 2ic Battalion leaves 0900 hrs. Battalion not to move before return of 2ic.
1500 Battalion moving route - Battalion SP X roads 500481 - bridge - 515499 – bridge 515499 bridge 521511 – 525518 – 507527- bridge 501539 – 486530-465330 - 461532- 460525- road junction 414525 - Sq 4153. Support Company remains in area Sq 4153.

1815 Battalion concentrated new area Sq 4153. Battalion HQ houses 413533. A Echelon now considered unnecessary and dispersed to Companies.

12/5/45

0200 Orders from HQ 160 Brigade. Battalion come under command 7 Armed Div and proceed to SCHLESWIG - HOLSTEIN today. CO to report HQ 160 Brigade.
0800 Company Commanders report Battalion HQ 0900 hrs for conference and recce. No Battalion move for area before 1100 hrs.

LOCATION 13533 - 12/5/45

0740: CO to HQ 160 Brigade.
0910: COs conferences. Battalion to move 1245 hours to area HEIDE 8943.
CO and Company Commanders leave 1000 hrs.
1230: Battalion column formed up and moving to new area. Route: - road junction 5988580- road junction 540592 – PINNEBERG 3665 – ELMSHORN 2775- STEINBERG 2084- NEUENBRIDGEOOK 1807- ITZEHOE 1794- GOKELS 1315 – canal 034161 -ALBERSDORF 0118 – HEIDE 8823

Support Company to move behind tail of 2 Monmouth Regt. column.

LOCATION HEIDE - 12/5/45

1810 Companies moving into area. Battalion area as shown on traced attached.

Future plans: to receive units of GERMAN army, disarm them and drive them over the stop line into ‘Peninsular B’ where they must be contained.

2200 Companies locations and areas as shown on trace.

13/5/45

Day spent in completing final arrangements for receiving GERMAN forces and dealing with them. General plan as in notes attached.

14/5/45

0630 - First parties arrived this morning.

15/5/45


0630 - No change in Battalion positions and duties

16/5/45 - 27/5/45

0630 - As above (repeated)

28/5/45

0900: CO to HQ 160 Brigade.
1400: Company Commanders conferences.

Brigade to cease under command 7 Armed Div and reverts to under command 53 Div. and to prepare to move in Div. occupational area in RUHR. Move down by stages.

Recce party departs at 090900B for the first area at BARMSTEDT.

Battalion moves 30 May.

29/5/45

0800: Recce party departed under command of Major W.H Clements.


30/5/45


1030: Battalion moving, Route : STELLE - HEIDE 8623 - ALBERSDORF 0118 - canal bridge 034161 - GOKELS 1315 - ITZERHOE 1794 - NEUMERSBRIDGEOCK 1807 - STEINBERG 2064 - ELMSHORN 2775 - BARMSTEDT 3479.


LOCATION BARMSTEDT - 30/5/45


1800: Battalion now established in BARMSTEDT in billets. No tactical layout. No Operational role. Battalion to rest and prepare for next stage of move.


31/5/45


2359: No change. Nothing to report.