RICHARDS, Charles V

Charles Richards lived at 38 Wheeler Street, Stourbridge, and was employed by J. Chance, the Stourbridge butcher. He enlisted in 1915 in the Army Service Corps as a driver. He served with the 144th Heavy Transport Company on the Western Front, gaining promotion, until the war was over. While his unit was occupying Lille, he caught influenza and died quickly of pneumonia on the 19th February 1919. His Commanding Officer regarded him as one of his best NCO's. He wrote to his widow, 'I personally have lost a friend who would have stuck to me through thick and thin.' Staff Sergeant Charles Richards was 29 years of age and is buried at Lille Southern Cemetery (II A 4) and commemorated on the Stourbridge and St. Thomas's church Memorials.