Corporal Thomas Richards

Corporal Thomas Richards was the son of John and Sarah Ann Richards, of Manchester; and husband of Mary Annie Richards, of Hulme, Manchester.

During World War II he served with the Manchester Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces in early 1942 joining the 4th Parachute Battalion. He attended the 10th course of elementary parachute training for men of No 1 Parachute Brigade at RAF Ringway, which ran from 16 to 27 March 1942.

Corporal Richards was amongst 156 men of the 4th Parachute Battalion undergoing training on the course in which over 1,000 descents were completed. He successfully completed two balloon jumps but unfortunately suffered a fatal parachuting accident on his first descent from an aircraft.

Corporal Richards died on 22 March 1942, aged 23 years old, and is now buried at the Southern Cemetery, Manchester.

Cemetery photograph courtesy of CWGC.