BX September 5, 1914

Has Joined the Regulars – Trooper Richards, Formerly of Brant Dragoons, with Lancashire Fusiliers

Major H.F. Leonard, commander of D. Squadron, 25th Brant Dragoons, has received the following letter from Trooper Richards, formerly of that squadron, who left for the old land when war was declared, so that he might enlist for active service immediately.

Sept. 3, 1914
Bury

Dear Major,

You must excuse me taking the liberty of writing you, but I just want to let you know that as a trooper in your squad I joined Kitchener’s army practically as soon as I landed. Well, sir, I have enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers, and as you will notice this is their headquarters. The recruits are joining wonderfully quick. They are drafting them out as quickly as possible. I expect to go today. They sent one of the wounded into the barracks this morning and he said that one battalion of the East Lancers got pretty well cut up. He says that the treatment of the Germans to our men is inhuman. They are cutting arms and legs off them as they lay on the field and the men here are only too anxious to get where they could have a crack at the monster. I will write you again and let you know how I get along, so I hope you will excuse this scribble. I am writing on a piece of firewood and it only wants a few minutes from “fall in.”  So I conclude, with my sincerest wishes and knowing that the 25th Brant Dragoons will not back out in a time of necessity, which is unmistakably the case at the present time. I remain your one-time trooper.

Richards,
Lancashire Fusiliers,
Bury

BX November 18, 1914

With the Fusiliers – Pte. Richards, Formerly of Brant Dragoons Writes to His Former Squadron Commander

The following letter has been received by Major H.F. Leonard from Pte. Richards, who is now on active service, but who was formerly a member of D. Squadron, Twenty-Fifth Brant Dragoons.

The Y.M.C.A. with H.M. Troops
Pte. T. Richards,
10th Batt. Lanc. Fus. Regt. B. Co.

Dear Major,

Just a few lines as promised. As you will see I am still in England, but we are only a few miles from the coast, and we expect to be amongst the Huns this month, and I will gladly welcome the news, for the more we  see here, the more anxious we all are to do what is expected of us. I might say that we have Belgian refugees here and if people out of touch with conditions as they are here, or who are doubtful of the stories being published about the way these people have been used in their own land, could only hear them tell their story and by their gestures explain it; well if there is any fellow feeling in them for human treatment, they would be ashamed to think they ever doubted it, for really it is past my pen to fully detail it to you. Well major, we have airships around here (not German though) and also searchlights sweeping the sky all night, for I suppose we must have a certain amount of protection from the promised German invasion. I might say that there are six regiments here besides us. We are having route marches two or three times a week, 10 to 14 miles. Well major I cannot tell you much more, only that we had the Royal Scots here two weeks ago, and now they have been in the fighting line and lots of fine fellows have gone down. Dear major, I was surprised to know you had my last letter published, but of course. If it did any good in helping the call to arms, I am glad. I am writing this to you personally and I would like to hear from you. My mother tells me that you have been very good to her, and I thank you very much for it, and I hope someday to repay you in some shape or form. At any rate I will do my best to be a credit to the 25th, while I am on active service, and I know that is all you expect of me. Please remember me to Sergt. Major Dawson (Good old Billy)

Yours Sincerely,
H. Richards

BX August 5, 1916

Arm Shattered By an Explosive German Bullet – Pte. Thomas Richards is in Bad Shape But Has Lost None of His Courage – How It Was Done.

Word has recently been received in the city by Mrs. C. Horspool, Tutela Post Office, giving particulars of the wounding of her son, Pte. Thomas Richards. Previous to enlistment he was a member of "D" squadron, 25th Brant Dragoons, under command of Col. H.F. Leonard. Shortly before the outbreak of the war he left to visit friends in the old country, and while there hostilities commenced and he joined "B" company of the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, with whom he has been ever since until he was wounded in July last. Although his wounds were serious ones, he has kept a brave heart and his friends hope for his ultimate recovery. The following extracts taken from a letter received from his brother gives particulars of the wounds and how they were received:

 Dick has a bullet wound in the left upper arm very near the top, also a compound fracture of the left humerus, which is the bone connecting the elbow to the shoulder. The bullet which caused the wound mentioned was an explosive one, with the result that in addition to the damage mentioned above, it had also blown out, or rather shattered the back part of his arm (upper part), leaving an open wound about the size of an egg. You will readily understand that this is causing great pain, and to tell you the truth Dick seems bothered about it. We cannot tell you yet what the result will be. In three or four days he expects to be put under the X-rays, after which we shall no doubt be able to give you more news. As regards to his back, we really expected this would be a bad job, but we are very pleased to say that this is not serious at all, and furthermore, Dick is not in the least concerned about it. He thinks he has twisted one of the muscles.

Now as to how it happened. He was in the 'big push' which started on July 1, 1916, and was around Mametz and Montauban. You will easily find these two places if you look at the maps which are no doubt in your daily papers. It was at Montauban where he got put out of action on July 7, about 3 o' clock. He had done some very good work previous to this and had been in the thick of it. He was up against the Prussian Guards, a very big rank and savage and most unclean fighters. At the time he was in the German trenches in the act of throwing a bomb. A German officer struck at him with his bayonet but Dick managed to get out of the way, only to find the officer's orderly rushing up taking aim at him, which unfortunately took effect. Dick fell, but had the presence of mind to stick to the bomb which was ready for throwing. The German officer and his servant had rushed into a dugout and Dick managed to throw the bomb into it and heard it explode. Badly hurt as he was he lifted his wounded arm up, grabbed the coat sleeve between his teeth  and in that position, staggering through loss of blood, climbing over barbed-wire and many other obstacles he managed in 2 and a half hours to reach the field dressing station, and from there he was eventually trans-shipped to England.

I might also say that he was recommenced to the commanding officer for gallantry during the period from July 1 to 7. This is the second occasion he has been brought to the notice of the commanding officer. It is to be hoped that he gets an honor. In any case 'honor or no honor' we know he has done his share and we are very proud of him and we know that you feel still more proud than we do. Now, mother, I have told you the worst so don't think that we are keeping anything from you. It is a miracle that he is alive and I might say there is a lot of life in him yet. We are thankful that he is receiving every care and the improvement we saw in him during our short stay only goes to show that in a matter of a few days he might be a great deal better.