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Charles Douglas Richardson (Discharge Documents, page 1)
Lance Corporal, Reg. 475465
PPCLI (4th Univ. Bn.)
K[illed]. in A[ction]. 9/10/4/17
4 October 1915: Pte. Richardson enlisted at Regina in the 4th Overseas Universities Co., C.E.F. (Attestation Papers, p. 1)
Pte. Richardson was 23 years 9 months of age, when he enlisted. He was 5 feet 7½ inches tall, weighted 125 lbs, had a girth of 30 inches, and a chest measurement of 32-36 inches. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. His church affiliation was Methodist. (Attestation Papers, p. 2)
22 October 1915: Inoculated for Typhoid Fever on Oct. 22, Oct. 29, and Nov. 5. (Medical History, Table 3)
17 November 1915: Vaccinated by T.P. Shaw. (Medical History, Table 3)
1 December 1915: Pte. Richardson began receiving pay at $1.00 a day and 10 cents a day field allowance. (Form P-56). His mother, Margaret Ethel Richardson, Grenfell, Saskatchewan, was listed as his next-of-kin.
7 December 1915: Arrived in England on the Lapland. (Form R-122, p. 1)
8 December 1915: Taken on strength by the 11th Battalion at Shorncliffe. (Form R-122, p. 1)
21 February 1916: Pte. Richardson assigned $15.00 a month to his sister, Cora M. Richardson, Grenfell, Saskatchewan, effective 1 March 1916. (Form M.F.W.12: Assigned Pay) (Form P-56)
24 April 1916: Officer Commanding 11 Reserve Battalion reported that Pte. Richardson had been struck off strength and had proceeded overseas to the P.P.C.L.I. (Form R-122, p. 1) On the same day, the Canadian Base Depot reported that he arrived in France and had been “taken on the strength of Battalion.” (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 1) In another report, the P.P.C.L.I recorded that he had been “Taken on strength In the Field” on this date. (Form R-122, p. 1)
14 May 1916: Officer commanding [PPCLI] Battalion reported that Pte. Richardson had “Joined Unit from Base In the field.” (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 1) Evidently, Pte. Richardson remained at the C.B.D. for a couple of weeks before going to the field.
2 June 1916: Pte. Richardson received a “GSW Thorax R” [gunshot wound in the right thorax or chest] resulting in a fractured rib. He had been in France six weeks. (Form R. & O. 6045, Proceedings of a Medical Board)
3 June 1916: The 13 General Hospital at Boulogne and the P.P.C.L.I. reported that Pte. Richardson had been admitted with “GSW Thorax R” [gunshot wound in the right thorax or chest]. (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 1)
6 June 1916: The 13 Field Hospital and the P.P.C.L.I. reported that the wound was severe and that Pte. Richardson was to be transported to the C.C.A.C [Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre] at Folkstone in England via H/S Cambria. (Form R-122, p. 1) (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 1)
7 June 1916: According to one medical report, Pte. Richardson was admitted to North Evington War Hospital at Leicester on 7 June 1916 [emphasis added] (Medical History, Army Form B. 178, Table II, p. 2). Another report repeated this admission date to the “North Evington War Hospital [emphasis added] (Medical History Sheet, p. 2). The use of the term “War Hospital” is evidence that one record served as the source of the other. These dates of admission are contradicted elsewhere in records that refer to North Evington as a “Military Hospital.” See below.
18 June 1916: The P.P.C.L.I. reported that Pte. Richardson was admitted to North Evington Military Hospital on 18 June 1916. On the same day, C.C.A.C. reported that Pte. Richardson was taken on strength at Folkstone, which was over 180 miles from Leicester (R-122, p. 1). A medical report also gave a date of 18 June 1916 for his transfer to North Evington Military Hospital, Leicester. (Form D.M.S 1300[?]) Why was there a discrepancy in the date of admission?
31 June 1916: Pte. Richardson was discharged from North Evington Hospital and transferred to Woodcote Park, Epsom. [Medical History Sheet, p. 2] This was confirmed in a second record. (Medical History, Army Form B. 178, Table 2, p. 2).
1 August 1916: P.P.C.L.I. reported that Pte. Richardson was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom (R.122, p. 1).
14 August 1916: Pte. Richardson was examined at Epson on 14 August 1916 by a Medical Board consisting of Captains H. G. Craig and C. C. Richardson. Pte. Richardson was described as “Recovered. Did not spit blood.” He was declared fit for duty after six weeks’ physical training. Proceedings of a Medical Board, 14 August 1916. (R. & O. 6045)
17 August 1916: C.C.A.C. reported that Pte. Richardson was transferred to “Command 2nd C.C.D. [Canadian Command Depot]” at Shoreham. (R.122, p. 1)
20 August 1916: Pte. Richardson was transferred from O.C.A.C. to C.C.D. at Shoreham-by-Sea. (Personnel Record)
1 November 1916: C.C.D. Medical Dept., Shoreham-by-Sea, reported that Pte. Richardson was “Recovered” and fit for duty. (Proceedings of a Medical Board, Shoreham, 1 Nov. 1916)
14 November 1916: C.C.A.C. reported that Pte. Richardson “ceases to be attached [to] C.C.D. [as he was now] “on command to C.C.T.D. [Canadian Casualty Training Depot]. (R.122, p. 2)
20/21 November 1916: Based on a Nov. 20th report from “1st C.C.T. Bn.” [1st Canadian Casualty Training Battalion], C.C.A.C. reported on Nov. 21 that Pte. Richardson “Ceases to be attd. to 1st CCTB” as he was “S.O.S. [struck off strength] to the PPCLI.”(R.122, p. 2)
21-27 November 1916: On Nov. 21, the O.C.C.B.D. [Officer Commanding Canadian Base Depot] reported that Pte Richardson had landed in France. He was taken on strength by the P.P.C.L.I. on Nov. 27. (R.122, p. 2) (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 2)
2-5 December 1916: On Dec. 2 Pte. Richardson left from the Canadian Base Depot for Unit in the Field, and the O.C.P.P.C.L.I [Officer commanding Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry reported on Dec. 5 that Pte. Richardson had arrived at the Unit for duty. (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 2)
10 January 1917: O.C. P.P.C.L.I. reported that Pte. Richardson had been appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) in the field. (R.122, p.2) (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 2)
9/10 April 1917: Lance Corporal Charles Douglas “Dick” Richardson was “Killed in Action” in the field. (R.122, p.2) (Casualty Form – Active Service, Army Form B. 103, p. 2) L/Cpl. actually died of wounds sustained on the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. His earthly remains were buried in the Liévin Communal Cemetery Extension at Liévin, Pas-de-Calais, France.