Alfred Joseph Richards (21 June 1879 to 21 May 1953)
Lancashire Fusiliers
Sergeant Alfred Joseph Richards served in the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and was one of six members of the Regiment to be elected for the Victoria Cross.
The award reflected their extreme bravery when they supported an attack on enemy machine gun positions during a hard-won beach landing west of Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April 1915. Collectively, they became known as 'the six VCs before breakfast'.
Alfred was wounded during the action and, as a result of this, had to have his right leg amputated above the knee a month after the attack. He was discharged from the Army on 31 July 1915 but went on to serve in the Home Guard as a Provost Sergeant during the Second World War.
In 1916 he married Dora Coombs, a nurse who had been treating him. They settled in Wandsworth, London and had a son called Harold (1919 to 1978). Alfred and Dora are buried in Putney Vale Cemetery, London where he is also remembered by 'Richards Way'.
Local connnections
Alfred was born into a military family at Plymouth's garrison hospital on 21 June 1879 to Charles and Bridget Richards. His father had also served in the Lancashire Regiment.
More information
Read the full story of Alfred's bravery on the Lancashire Fusiliers website.
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