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John Soame Richardson

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John Soame Richardson

John Soame Richardson
Born(1836-03-16)16 March 1836
Heydon, Norfolk, England
Died9 June 1896(1896-06-09) (aged 60)
Sydney, Australia
Allegiance United Kingdom
Colony of New South Wales
BranchUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland British Army (1854–64)
New South Wales Military Forces (1864–92)
Years of service1854–1892
RankMajor General
CommandsNew South Wales Military Forces
New South Wales Contingent
Battles / wars
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Mentioned in Despatches

Major General John Soame Richardson, CB (16 March 1836 – 9 June 1896)[1] was a British Army officer and Commander of the Forces in colonial New South Wales.

Richardson was born in Heydon, Norfolk, England,[1] and entered the British Army in 1854.[2] The following year, he served with the 72nd Highlanders in the Crimean War, and was present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol for which he received the Crimea Medal with clasp and the Turkish Crimea Medal. In the New Zealand Wars he served with the 1st Battalion, 12th (East Suffolk) Regiment of Foot in the Taranaki district, and in the Waikato campaign in 1863 and 1864.[2]

Richardson was awarded the New Zealand War Medal, became captain in 1863 and, retiring from the Imperial service, was in 1865 appointed to command the military forces of New South Wales, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became colonel in 1876 and major general in 1885, following his command of the New South Wales Contingent despatched to co-operate with the British forces in the Sudan campaign. He was also created Companion of the Order of the Bath, mentioned in despatches, and received the Egyptian Medal with clasp "Suakin 1885" and the Khedive's Star in recognition of his services.[2]

John Soame Richardson died on 9 June 1896.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Pemberton, Gregory J. "Richardson, John Soame (1836–1896)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Mennell, Philip (1892). "Richardson, Major-General John Soame" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
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