William Ernest Liddell Richardson was the son of William Ernest Black Richardson and Anne Neil (Liddell) Richardson of Cowdenbeath, Fife. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers and volunteered for Airborne Forces.

He successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 105 from 1 to 14 March 1944. His course report stated “Keen and reliable, worked hard throughout, average jumper”. He was posted to B Squadron, 1st Special Air Service Regiment, Army Air Corps.

He was murdered by a Nazi firing squad on 7 July 1944, aged 26 and is now buried in Rom Communal Cemetery. Southern France.