[Transcript] Diaries of Thomas James Richards, Vol. 4

Richards, Thomas James (Lieutenant, b.1882 - d.1935)

- Vol. 4: Diaries of Thomas James Richards, 9 November 1916 - 31 May 1918

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Places	Europe: France, Haute-Normandie, Seine Maritime, Le Havre Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Nord, Hazebrouck Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Nord, Strazeele Europe: France, Picardie, Somme Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert Bapaume Area, Aveluy Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Bapaume Cambrai Area, Bullecourt Europe: United Kingdom, England, Greater London, London Europe: United Kingdom, England, Surrey, Elmbridge, Cobham
Accession Number	RCDIG0001498
Collection number	2DRL/0786
Collection type	Digitised Collection
Record type	File
Item count	1
Object type	Diary
Physical description	317 Image/s captured
Maker	Australian War Memorial Richards, Thomas James 'Rusty'
Place made	Australia, France, United Kingdom: England, Western Front
Date made	1916-1918; 1935
Conflict	First World War, 1914-1918

Description

Transcript of diaries relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Thomas James Richards, 1st Australian Infantry Battalion. This transcript was made of the last bound volume of Richards’ diaries and covers the period 9 November 1916 to 31 May 1918. As such the entries detail Richards’ promotion to second lieutenant and transfer from the 1st Australian Field Ambulance to the 1st Infantry Battalion in late 1916. He writes of his service and experiences with the battalion as it wintered on the Somme during the winter of 1916/1917, and of his subsequent transfer to the I ANZAC Corps School for further officer training in March 1917. After returning to his battalion in early April, he writes of the participation of his battalion in the Second Battle of Bullecourt in early May, his actions on 4 May 1917 earning him the Military Cross. After being wounded by a bomb explosion, he writes of his transfer to a hospital in England in late May and his promotion to lieutenant the next month. Returning to his battalion in early August, Richards records his subsequent return to England wounded in late September where he would spend several months in convalescence. After returning to his battalion once again in February 1918, he records the German Spring Offensive of March/April 1918 and the actions of his battalion during this time. Richards’ last recollections are of his return to England in early May 1918 due to a back injury sustained in the line, after which he was officially struck off strength. This transcript was made by the Australian War Memorial in 1935.