Company Sergeant Major Roy Richards DCM

Roy Richards enlisted into The Dorsetshire Regiment before volunteering for airborne forces while serving as a Private.

He subsequently served with 11th Special Air Service (SAS) Battalion, which was later re-organised and renamed the 1st Parachute Battalion (1st Para Bn) on 15 September 1941. During the re-organisation he was assigned to U Company in Lt Musker's platoon. He later undertook further parachute training on No 3 Advanced Training Course at RAF Ringway which ran from 21 to 29 January 1942.

By the time 1st Para Bn was deployed for North Africa and Operation Torch in 1942, Richards was serving as the Company Quartermaster Sergeant for 1st Para Bn's T Company (T Coy).

Richards was promoted to Company Sergeant Major of T Coy during the campaign in North Africa.

After several months of hard fighting, 1st Para Bn was sent to occupy positions close to the Beja-Sedjenane road in the Tamera Valley in March 1943. Shortly after their arrival, the 1st Battle of Tamera started, when 1st and 2nd Para Bn positions were subject to an attack by four regiments comprising German, Austrian and Italian troops.

During this attack S Coy (1st Para Bn) position's were over run and Lt Col Pearson, Commanding Officer of 1st Para Bn, ordered T Coy to mount a counter-attack to retake the positions. CSM Richards played an instrumental part in the counter attack and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his courage and leadership during the battle. His citation records:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 8 March 43 in the TAMERA sector (Tunisia Sh 10). C.S.M. Richards was a member of a counter-attack force which had to attack a strong position on which the enemy had established himself. Whilst gaining their objective the force came under heavy shell and mortar fire and the force commander was killed. C.S.M. Richards immediately rallied the men who were considerably shaken and took the objective. He then sent the remainder of the force to assist another platoon which was in difficulties, while he himself mounted a machine gun and held the position by himself for three hours. He caused severe casualties to the enemy who were trying to regain the position. C.S.M. Richards showed a complete disregard for his own safety and by his own coolness and initiative under fire undoubtedly saved a vital position from falling into the hands of the enemy.'

CSM Richards was subsequently wounded during 1st Para Bn's withdrawal from its positions at Tamera on 18 March 1943. His wounds resulted in an amputation and a medical discharge.