condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

James Macdonald Richmond

-
Lay a poppy
Portrait of Major James Macdonald Richmond, Archives New Zealand, ALZ 25044 6 / F743 26. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Major James Macdonald Richmond, Archives New Zealand, ALZ 25044 6 / F743 26. Image is su …

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    James Macdonald AWMM
  • Surname
    Richmond AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    James Mcdonald Richmond AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 2/311 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    17 April 1888 AWMM Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 5 August 1914 AWMM Alexandra Barracks, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Maurice Wilson Richmond (father), 47 Webb Street, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 16 October 1914 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
      Citation for Distinguished Service Order (DSO): "Near Messines May 31st to June 7th 1917. He has worked incessantly during the recent operations, has been with the Divisional Artillery without a break since the Main Body left New Zealand, and has always shown great devotion to duty. I have always had great confidence in him as Brigade-Major. This has never been misplaced, and it has always enabled me to spend the greater part of my time going about the batteries and O.P.s and keeping in touch with the personnel of the Artillery of this Division. I recommend Major Richmond for the D.S.O. His staff work has been of a very high order." (London Gazette, 1 January 1918, p. 29, Rec. No. 1003) AWMM
    • Military Cross (MC) AWMM
      Citation for Military Cross (MC): "26 April - 26 August 1915 Gallipoli. Has done much good work as Staff Captain since the force first landed on the Peninsula in the dual capacity of Brigade-Major and Staff Captain. His work since the present operations commenced on the 6 Aug has been particularly arduous & praise-worthy. This officer is my brigade-major and was on the peninsula throughout the whole of the operations and has done most excellent staff work throughout. I particularly request that he be decorated or rewarded." (London Gazette, 3 June 1916, p. 5578, WA 22/5/10) AWMM
    • Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) Four Times AWMM
      1st MID: "In connection with the operations described in General I. Hamilton's despatch dated 11 December 1915." (London Gazette, 28 January 1916, p. 1209) 2nd MID: "For distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of General Sir C. Munro's command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force." (London Gazette, 13 July 1916, p. 6943) 3rd MID: "Operations from 28th September 1916 to 26th February 1917. An exceptionally able young officer with an unusual capacity for writing clear and easily intelligible operation orders, no matter how complicated the tactical situation. He is an exceedingly quick and accurate officer. The above qualities have been of the greatest use in his capacity as Brigade-Major, N.Z.F.A., during the 53 days the New Zealand Field Artillery were engaged in the Somme battle, both to me and to the various C.R.As, with whose command in the New Zealand Field Artillery was at times grouped. These C.R.As have all written to me in most commendatory terms of Major Richmond's work and ability. His work as Brigade-Major has also been invaluable during the months we held the line at Armentieres and Fleurbaix. He is the sole survivor of a batch of four young N.Z.F.A. Officers, and I should be pleased if his work could be recognised." (London Gazette, 1 June 1917, p. 5429, Rec. No. 611) 4th MID: "Mentioned in Field Marshall D. Haig's despatch of 7 November 1917 for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period February 26th to midnight September 20-21st, 1917." (London Gazette, 28 December 1917, p. 13575) AWMM
    • Victory Medal AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 5 August 1914 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
    Regular soldier/Civilian AWMM
    AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

Contribute ›

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
  • Son of Maurice Wilson Richmond and Flora Hursthouse Richmond, of 15 Upper Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, London, England (formerly of Christchurch, New Zealand).

    Gained Lieutenant's commission on 5 August 1914 (Studholme 1928).

    Promoted to Major on 25 January 1917 (Studholme 1928).

    Officer Commanding of 9th Battery, NZ Field Artillery, August 1918 (Haigh & Polaschek 1993).

    Captain and Brigade Major of NZ Divisional Artillery, 1916 (Haigh & Polaschek 1993).

    Appointed Commanding Officer, 2nd (Army) Brigade, NZ Field Artillery, on 27 October 1918 as Lieutenant Colonel (appointment not ratified) and killed the same day (Haigh & Polaschek 1993).

    "While military secretary and A.D.C. to General Godley, had official information of the Government’s decision to call for volunteers for service abroad, and immediately decided to place his name at the head of the list. Leaving with the Main Body on October 16th, 1914, Acting-Adjutant to the O.C. Artillery as well as the ship, he was among the first to land at Anzac Cove on April 25th, and the last to leave on December 20th. He received his promotion to Captain on July 26th, and was appointed Brigade Major in the following September, gaining his majority on February 5th, 1917. Early in August he was put in charge of the 9th Battery N.Z.F.A., being killed by a 5.9 shell on October 27th, 1918, when in temporary charge of a brigade, and buried at Solemnes the following day. Many tributes have been paid from those in a position to know his true character, among them one from the Minister of Defence, who spoke of his distinguished record as one which his family, the people of New Zealand, and the N.Z.E.F. might justly be proud. He died at the entrance to his new headquarters, a ruined cottage adjacent to the batteries. So complete were his orders and instructions that they were preserved for future reference, being considered models of excellence worthy of study by any future artillery officer wishing to gain a thorough knowledge of modern warfare." (In Memoriam, 1914-1918 [Wanganui Collegiate School]) AWMM
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    27 October 1918 AWMM
    Age 30 AWMM
    Le Cateau, France AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Solesmes Communal Cemetery, Nord, France AWMM B. 1. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember James Macdonald Richmond by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of James Macdonald Richmond

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors. AWMM
    • McDonald, W. (2001). Honours and awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. Napier, N.Z.: Helen McDonald. AWMM
      McDonald, H. (2001). p. 270. AWMM
    • Studholme, J. (1928). New Zealand Expeditionary Force record of personal services during the war of officers, nurses, and first-class warrant officers, and other facts relating to the N.Z.E.F. : unofficial but based on official records. Wellington, N.Z.: Government Printer. AWMM
    • In Memoriam, 1914-1918. (1919).Wanganui, N.Z.: Collegiate School. AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      Vol1: 615 AWMM
    • Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors. AWMM
      Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (compilers). (1993). p. 261 AWMM
    • Studholme, J. (1928). New Zealand Expeditionary Force record of personal services during the war of officers, nurses, and first-class warrant officers, and other facts relating to the N.Z.E.F. : unofficial but based on official records. Wellington, N.Z.: Government Printer. AWMM
      Studholme, J. (1928). p. 254. AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 1: Includes portrait AWMM
    • McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers. AWMM

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.