OC Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 48th Highlanders of Canada (CASF)
Captain WP (Bill) Richardson enlisted in Toronto for the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada (CASF).The first entry in our records show him as a Lieutenant being assigned Orderly Officer on 5 May 1942. At that time the battalion was at Littlehampton in England training the Home Guard to take over Coastal defence duties. Companies sent to four areas for the training: A Coy. Grafham, Cocking, Heyshott; B Coy. Burpham, Amberly, Crossbush; C Coy Midhurst. D Coy. Littlehampton. Our records don’t show when he sailed from Canada to the UK.
Later that month on 17 May he was Struck off Strength to 1 CDIRU (The holding unit for Highlanders when the battalion’s rolls were full.) He returned to the battalion 5 June. He was assigned to D Company on the 19th. This record gives his date of birth as 20 July 1907 and his . In July he was appointed as a member of the Board of Audit to review the battalion’s Books and Accounts and later that month was a member of a Court of Inquiry into the illegal absence of Pte Holland. On 7 November 1942 he completed CMHQ Course for Junior Officers and qualified “B”. In March 1943 with the battalion now at Little London, Sussex, he gave 6 lectures (1 on administrative problems, 2 on administrative practices and 3 on military tactics). On 12 May 1943 he was appointed A/Captain.
He was appointed Quartermaster for HQ Company when the battalion embarked at Gourock, Scotland on 28 June and disembarked on the beaches at Pachino, Sicily on 10 July. Interestingly on 28 August, while the battalion was at rest at Miletello Sicily after completing the Sicilian campaign Captain Richardson acted as Master of Ceremonies for a YMCA sponsored Quiz and Signing event, entertaining the battalion.
On 10 September, near the Catanzaro Marina on the lower coast of Italy, he had Under Command A & B Echelon under Brigade control. On 01 December 43 when the battalion moved to the Adriatic Coast after taking the town of Torella, north of Campobasso, B Echelon was under command of Capt. Richardson who was now Officer Commanding HQ Company, then on 2 December, near San Salvo, B Ech remained U/C and on 3 December brought up rations to the battalion near Passacelia.
Richardson had received his qualification as QM on 26 November and his appointment to Captain was confirmed on 11 February 1944. On the 12th he was transferred to 5 Canadian Armoured Division. (Service records required for balance of service).
During his time with the 48th Highlanders 1st Battalion, Richardson participated in the Sicilian Campaign, advance to Campobasso, the fight to Ortona including the 48th Highlanders outflanking of the town by a daring night penetration over 2 miles behind German lines.
Next of Kin: wife at 33 Woodlawn Avenue W., Toronto