Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War pair awarded to Lieutenant J. W. Richards, No. 104 Squadron Royal Air Force - who claimed four ‘victories’ and was wounded in action, 6 November 1918

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.) extremely fine (2) £400-500

Joseph William Richards was born in King’s Heath, Birmingham in 1898 and was educated at Green Hill School, Moseley and Oundle School, Northampton. He attested as an Air Mechanic Class 3 in 11 April 1917 but was discharged on 4 July 1917 being appointed to a commission in the R.F.C.

The book Independent Force by K. Rennles, page 120/121 7.9.18 gives a graphic account of the raid on the Badische Aniline Soda Fabrick Works at Mannheim - Lieutenant Richards, despite a badly running engine, stayed with the formation all the way to the target, even though he was 2000 feet below the others and an easy target for enemy scouts. With a rough running engine, miles over the lines, Richards had every reason to put his nose down and try to save himself and his Observer. This he did not do and stayed with the formation hoping to reach the lines. Lieutenant Richards lost his Observer - Sergeant Reast, who was wounded twice by enemy aircraft and died two days later. Neither Richards or Reast received any award for an outstanding piece of bravery, in flying for most of the mission on their own, with a faulty engine. They not only made the lines but Richards managed to reach Azelot where his machine was written off due to battle damage. Richards claimed Reast had shot down three enemy scouts, however none were recognised. What is even more remarkable is that 18 photos were taken by one machine as, according to the records Richards & Reast were the only photographic machine to reach Azelot as the other photo machine was shot down.

In a bombing raid on Buhl Aerodrome, 6 November 1918, both Richards and his observer were wounded. Lieutenant Richards was transferred to the Unemployed List in September 1919. With a quantity of copied research including service papers, gazette extracts and reports.