371932 (2730511) Major (RSM) Edward Leslie Gilbert 'Tex' RICHARDS, MBE, MM, MiD, 1 Welsh Guards: POW

Date of Enlistment: 4 February 1920
Personal Number: 371932
Army Number: 2730511
Rank: Regimental Serjeant Major ; Major
Name: Edward Leslie Gilbert RICHARDS, MBE, MM, MiD
Unit: 1 Welsh Guards

Date of Birth: 18 May 1904
Place of Birth: Madras

Date of Capture:
Place of Capture: West Capelle

POW Number: 249
POW Camps: Stalag VB, Stalag VD, Stalag XXIA, Stalag 383, Oflag VIIB


London Gazette : 26 July 1940
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34904/supplement/4582/data.pdf
The names of the undermentioned have been brought to notice in recognition of distinguished services rendered in connection with operations in the field. (First list, to March 1940, sub-joined. Second list, March-June 1940, to be published later):—
Welsh Guards.
Richards, No. 2730511 W .O. I (R.S.M.) E. L. G.

London Gazette : 29 November 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37368/supplement/5790/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
The Military Medal.
No. 2730511 Warrant Officer Class I Edward Leslie Gilbert RICHARDS, Welsh Guards (Mold, N. Wales)

London Gazette : 9 June 1955
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40497/supplement/3265/data.pdf
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotion in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: —
To be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the said Most. Excellent Order:—
Major (Quartermaster) Edward Leslie Gilbert RICHARDS, M.M. (371932), Welsh Guards (Employed List (4)).

 

London Gazette : 26 July 1940
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34904/supplement/4579/data.pdf

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34904/supplement/4582/data.pdf



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Recommendation for Award for Richards, Edward Leslie Gilbert Rank: Regimental... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/57/704
Name Richards, Edward Leslie Gilbert
Rank: Regimental Serjeant Major
Service No: 2730511
Regiment: Training Battalion Welsh Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Repatriated PoWs
Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal [sic ; Military Medal]
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 29 November 1945

2720511 Regimental Sergeant-Major Edward Leslie Gilbert RICHARDS, Training Battalion, WELSH GUARDS

R.S.M. RICHARDS was R.S.M. 1st Batt. WELSH GUARDS during the operations in FRANCE and BELGIUM 17 May - 29 May 40.

During the battle of ARRAS 17 - 23 May he performed most valuable and gallant service in organising the defence, when many scattered units were placed under command of the Batt; without their proper complement of Officers or N.C.O.s.

On 29 May when the Batt. was heavily attacked by German tanks and Infantry at VFY WEG, he played a prominent part in organising the defence and subsequent withdrawal, when ordered, of Batt. H.Q.

He remained with the last party and was severely wounded and made prisoner when this party was overrun. His coolness and high morale under heavy fire materially assisted the safe withdrawal of others.

Very strongly recommended. Not forwarded before as the Commanding Officer at the time, Brigadier COPELAND-GRIFFITHS, had to wait till the release of prisoners-of-war so as to verify certain of the facts.

Signed Date 4 Aug 45 V. COPELAND-GRIFFITHS formerly Commanding 1st Batt. WELSH GUARDS, 26 Jan 1938 to 14 July 1940

WO373/57-ir367

 

Name: Edwin [L G] Richards . Date of Birth: 18/05/1904 . Place of Birth: Madras . ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/305/178
Name: Edwin [L G] Richards.
Date of Birth: 18/05/1904.
Place of Birth: Madras.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Regimental Sergeant Major.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [Welsh Regiment]. [sic]
Service Number: 2730511.
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Stalag VB Villingen.
PoW number: 249.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 2.
Date: [1939-1945]

 

View Record via Ancestry

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. 2730511
RANK - R.S.M.
SURNAME - RICHARDS
CHRISTIAN NAMES - EDWARD LESLIE
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - WELSH GUARDS

3. DIVISION (ARMY) -

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 18/5/04

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 4/2/20

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION -

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 27 MARLBOROUGH ROAD, ROATH, CARDIFF, S. WALES

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - OEST CAPELLE

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - YES

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
STALAG VD STRASBOURG 2/10/40 - 15/12/40
STALAG VD HEIBURG 16/12/40 - 20/1/41
STALAG XXIA SCHILDBERG POLAND 16/3/41 - 15/1/43
STALAG 383 HOHENFELS 10/1/43 - 10/3/44
STALAG OFLAG VIIB EICHSTäTT 11/3/44 - 15/4/44


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
NIL

12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
NIL
12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
-


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. 2730511
RANK - R.S.M.
SURNAME - RICHARDS
CHRISTIAN NAMES - EDWARD L.


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
-
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom.
-

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
NO

4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did yo make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
NO

5. SABOTAGE
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
40 O.R. were employed oiling captured British arms in St. OMER - July 1940. Able to destroy or break vital parts of the small arms (? blocks, etc). All R.A. Guns were already 'spiked',

6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
NO

7. WAR CRIMES
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coning under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
NIL


SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

Date 10/5/45
Signature E Richards RSM

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Richards, Edward Leslie Gilbert
Rank: Major
Service No: 371932
Regiment: Welsh Guards - Employed List 4
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Birthday Honours
Award: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 09 June 1955
Date 1955
Catalogue reference WO 373/163

 

See also:

• https://achive.org/details/bearskinsbayonet0000royl/page/193/mode/1up?q="gilbert+richards"
• Bearskins, Bayonets & Body Armour ; Trevor Royle
  
• Regimental Serjeant Major E.L.G. 'Tex' Richards, MM
• 2730511 Edward Leslie Gilbert Richards was only fifteen when he joined the Welsh Guards in 1920, but claimed he was eighteen years of age in order to draw a man's pay. Born in Madras, the son of a soldier, he was a drill sergeant in February 1935 and Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion in 1938, with which he went to France at the outbreak of the Second World War.
• During the operations around Arras he was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Military Medal for 'most valuable and gallant service in organising the defence' and for 'playing a prominent part in organizing the defence and subsequent withdrawal'.
• He remained with the last party but was severely wounded and taken captive, seeing out his war in Stalag 383 in Poland, the same camp that held CQMS Horace 'Phil' Philips (see separate entry). After being released he was again Mentioned in Despatches in 'recognition of Gallant and Distinguished Services as a Prisoner of War'. In the immediate post-war period he was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of a Composite Battalion sent to Norway on internal security duties and, having been commissioned, was Camp Commandant at Pirbright, and 4th Guards Brigade in Germany. His final position was Quartermaster HQ Western Command. He retired from the Army in 1956 and died in October 1977.
• He was always nicknamed 'Tex' after a country music singer and film actor called Tex Ritter.
• 
• 
  
• 2733926 Company Quartermaster Serjeant Horace Cyril PHILLIPS, MBE, 1 Welsh Guards: POW