Richardson Matthew Henry (A.?) Pte 4456293
Personnel Entry
Name Richardson Matthew Henry
Army number 4456293
Rank Private.
Decorations None yet known beyond Service Awards.
Date of birth Born 14/11/1921.
Age
Unit Enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry, T, 31/5/1939. Posted to the 9th Battalion DLI. Posted to the 12th Battalion DLI 20/1/1940. Transferred to the Black Watch 1/2/1940, and posted to the 1st Tyneside Scottish. Qualified for TPP 3/3/1940. Posted to 23rd Divisional details 25/4/1940 as he was too young to be sent overseas. Re-posted to 1st Tyneside Scottish 21/6/1940. Served Iceland from 19/10/1940. Granted leave from Iceland 3/12/1941. Attached to 216 (H) Searchlight Training Regiment while attending Course at ECTC 21/2/1943. Attached to Headquarters 49th Division. Embarked for North West Europe 9/6/1944. On the disbandment of 1st Tyneside Scottish he was posted to 1st Battalion Black Watch 24/8/1944. Transferred to the Army Catering Corps, Auth: Part II Order 1/89/44. Continued to be attached to 1st Black Watch. Struck off strength on being posted to X (ii) List 12/11/1944. Posted to 32 RHU. Posted to 105 Reinforcement Group18/12/1944. Attached to 2nd Battalion Gordons 16/9/1945. Posted to the Civil Affairs Department, Eastbourne 12/11/1945. Granted Class A Release 13/5/1946. Posted to Y List. Relegated to Class Z (T) Reserve 7/8/1946. Demobilised.
Company/Battery Not yet ascertained.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Cook. Attended a Cook's Course in Iceland - being attached to 16th Fusiliers during that period. Passed Trade Test for Battalion Cook and promoted to Class II and given pay increase. Upgraded to Class 1 (non-tradesman) Cook 23/8/1941. Took Refresher Course and Passed as Class 1 at Kinmel Park 20/3/1943. Re-classified for pay as Scale D Class 5A 15/4/1943 while at Velindre. Passed standard Trade Test for Cook Group B Class II while at Southwold 31/12/1943.
Joined Brigade 20/1/1940.
Promotions None known as yet.
Wounded Not as far as is known. Admitted to General Hospital in Iceland 30/9/1941 - discharged 21/10/1941.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Died aged 64 in Coventry in June 1987.
Home address Father - James Andrew Richardson. Mother (Ruth May) listed as Next of Kin. Lived at 12, West St. Gateshead and worked as an Apprentice Bricklayer at the time of enlistment. Father's address later listed as 20, Park Street, Gateshead.
Source table 1TS