Trying to trace my fathers service history. RA - WW2

Apologies in advance as we are very new to this type of searching!!!

Now in my 70's I would like to leave my family with a few details of my fathers war service during WW2 to go with all his medals.

My father was Captain Melbourne Reginald Richardson and traveled extensively with his regiment via the Normandy landings right throughout France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany. I understand that he was also involved in some major way with the liberation of Belsen.

He joined through the TA ending up with the rank of Captain with a Light Anti Aircraft (Bofors) Regiment. We suspect it may have been the 113th RA-LAA but are not certain as like many of his 'colleagues' he did not speak much of his exact exploits to family.

Could someone please give us a starting point. I now live in Australia and trying to find out anything of this nature is hard when the only resource we have over here is the internet!!

Regards and thanks (in anticipation)!!
Vern

Vern Richardson
Swansea, Tasmania, Australia

 

Hi Vern,

Best place to start is requesting his service record from the MOD in Glasgow - it will cost you £30 but should give you a lot of dates and places etc to help you.
Get a copy of military service records

Once you’ve confirmed his unit and dates of service the next thing you can do is ask on the forum if they can provide you with a copy of thst unit’s war diary for the dates he was with them - Drew and Lee both visit the National Archives regularly and can get you files, if they exist, for a lot less than getting the actual Archives to make you a copy.

 

Interesting name - not that common

For his service records you will need a copy of his death cert to comply with data laws - if you dont have one then apply to the registrars office at the place below


England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Melbourne Reginald Richardson
Death Age: 87
Birth Date: 24 May 1917
Registration Date: Sep 2004
Registration district: Swansea
Inferred County: Glamorgan
Register Number: D175
District and Subdistrict: 897/1D

There are at least 2 family trees for him on Ancestry
Melbourne Reginald Richardson
Birth: 24 May 1917 - London
Death: 20 Sep 2004 - Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
Marriage: Jun 1945 - London, Middlesex
F: Edwin Frederick Richardson
M: Isabella Preston

TD

 

It is now simpler .. The official UK Government site for ordering BIrth and Death certificates has an online service with email delivery - and it is cheaper
use
Registration Services - Ordering Service

Register and use the GRO Refences shown above
R

 

Put just his name in the search on The Gazette | Official Public Record and got at least one hit. Publication date 2nd April 1943, supplement 35965, page 1565. Came up with an entry for Melbourne Reginald Richardson 264747.
All promotions, decorations etc are on there somewhere, but it is not the best search engine I've ever encountered. Good luck in your searches.

 

From Findmypast

British Army, Royal Artillery Officer Deaths 1850-2011
Rank Captain
First name(s) Melbourne Reginald
Last name Richardson
Birth year 1917
Age 87
Death year 2004
Death date 20 Sep 2004
Obituary Gunner, Dec 2004
Record set British Army, Royal Artillery Officer Deaths 1850-2011
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
Collections from Great Britain, UK None
Category Military, armed forces & conflict

Gus

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

Here is a link to the website of the Gunner Magazine that is mentioned in the previous post by Gus.

I’m sure if you contact the magazine via the listed email and explain your enquiry they’ll likely turn up his 2004 obituary for you. It will likely contain much service history information.

Good Luck.

Steve

Gunner - RA Association

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far. It's proving to be a very slow process trying to do things from over here in Australia!!!
I have emailed the Gunner Magazine but not even an acknowledgement in over three weeks so not holding out much hope in that area.
I will try to also get some of my family in the UK involved.
Thanks again!!

 

Hi Vern

I did the same for my Dad who was with 14th and 13th LAA, worth getting his service records and then from them where he went through the war diaries.
Hope you can find what you are after.

regards

Robert