English Māori Jack Longton Richards Born 9 July 1916 - Died 14 March 2005 PDF Key details Service number2898 AWMM Also known as Armed force / branchArmy AWMM Last rankWarrant Officer Class 1 AWMM 18 Infantry Battalion AWMM WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Enquire Lay a poppy Hide sources Show empty fields Identity About Contribute › Title ForenamesJack Longton AWMM SurnameRichards AWMM Ingoa Also known as Service number2898 AWMM GenderMale AWMM Iwi Hapū Waka Rohe Religion Images and documents Images Contribute › Documents Contribute › Civilian life About birth Contribute › Birth9 July 1916 AWMM Wellington, New Zealand AWMM Date of birth Place of birth Birth notes Address before enlistmentUnknown AWMM C/o Colyer Watson Company, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Post war occupation Next of kin on embarkationMr E.K. Richards (father), Egdecombe Road, Tauranga, New Zealand AWMM Relationship statusPre 5 January 1940 AWMM Single AWMM Service Wars and conflicts Contribute › WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Campaign Armed force / branchArmy AWMM Service number2898 AWMM Military service Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers Military decorations Contribute › Medals and AwardsMilitary Medal (MM) AWMM 6 April 1944 AWMM The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Richards, Jack Longton. (Ref. WO 373/5/438). Military Medal. AWMM Training and Enlistment Contribute › Military training Branch Trade Proficiency EnlistmentWW2 Accountant Clerk/Civilian AWMM AWMM Occupation before enlistment Age on enlistment Embarkations Contribute › Embarkation detailsWW2 Acting Corporal/Military AWMM Prisoner of war Contribute › Capture details Days interned Liberation date Liberation Repatriation POW liberation details POW serial number Medical history Contribute › Medical notes Last known rank Contribute › Last rankWarrant Officer Class 1 AWMM 18 Infantry Battalion AWMM Biographical information Biographical information Contribute › Husband of BettyWO I J. L. Richards, MM; Auckland; born Wellington, 9 Jul 1916; company director. (Source: Dawson, W.D. 18 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. p.193.)'By 4 p.m. the battalion was consolidating on the airfield, occupying old German positions on the western boundary with C Company to the north and A to the south. Divisional Cavalry was still patrolling westwards. C and D Companies had cleared the control buildings on the northern edge; D Company was now occupying them and lining the escarpment, which fell away 100 feet just beyond the buildings. B was in reserve on the open field left of D. On the escarpment edge were the carriers and an attached section of Vickers guns, all firing downhill at enemy posts on the main road and a small side road which wound down the escarpment from the airfield. A troop of 25-pounders farther back was also in the party. German mortars and small-calibre guns were firing back, but it was only speculative shooting and fairly harmless, as Jerry had no observation over the airfield.The triumphal entry into Gambut is described by RQMS Jack Richards: The show was absolutely deserted when we drove in. It was a noble sight, we passed thousands of neatly stacked bombs then drove over the airfield to the tents and buildings on the other side. Someone started shelling us from the road so we debussed and the Coys. went forward while the rest of us started investigating. Near the repair sheds there were about 30 damaged German planes…. Some had obviously crashed and had been brought in probably for spare parts but many had been damaged on the ground by our R.A.F. because you could see bomb holes and shrapnel all over the place. But our natural instinct for loot and booty soon led us into the many tents and dugouts round the area. In half an hour most of us were running round in a weird assortment of German and Italian clothing. All of us were smoking German or Italian cigarettes or cigars. Others had got abandoned lorries, cars and motor bikes going while some fortunate few had bagged automatic pistols. We had a marvellous time and although looting is not in accordance with army regulations we were allowed a fairly free rein.Richards adds that when 18 Battalion left Gambut its transport was ‘supplemented by one German breakdown truck, an Opel car, and a couple of motor bikes’. WO I J. L. Richards, MM; Auckland; born Wellington, 9 Jul 1916; company director.' (Source: Dawson, W.D. 18 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. pp. 193.) AWMM Read more Death About death Contribute › Death14 March 2005 AWMM Age 88 AWMM AWMM Date of death Age at death Place of death Cause of death Death notes Cemetery Cemetery name Grave reference ObituaryDeath notice: New Zealand Herald, March 2005 AWMM Memorial name Memorial reference Memorials Memorial Contribute › Memorial name Roll of Honour Remember Jack Longton Richards by laying a poppy. Jack Richards Jack Richards Jack Longton Richards James Richards James Richards Lay a poppy for 2021 Leave a note Leave a tribute or memory of Jack Longton Richards Leave a note Contribute › Processing Sources Sources Contribute › External linksDawson, W. (1961). 18 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-18Ba.html Sources Used 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 6 April 1944, p.1588.). Military Medal. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36456/supplements/1588 Further Reference The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Richards, Jack Longton. (Ref. WO 373/5/438). Military Medal. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C8889620 Further Reference DocumentsThe New Zealand Herald AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM WW2 1: WW2 152 AWMM Dawson, W. (1961). 18 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM Dawson, W. (1961). p. 359-60, 399-400, 664 AWMM Dawson, W. (1961). 18 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM pp.193, 336, 359, 360, 399, 400, 664. 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. Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License