10/11/2023
With the weekend of remembrance approaching and all the unpleasantness in the news at present, I felt I should post a copy of a letter concerning my Grandfather Rev T. M H. Richards, dated I believe circa late 1942. ‘Tribute from North Africa’ in the Redditch Advertiser. Whilst there were many acts of heroism, this is a personal one.
‘in a letter from Sergeant Hateley, of the British First Army, North Africa, tribute is paid to the Rev T.M.H Richards, formerly SS Mathhias and George Church Astwood Bank, for calmness and courage on a bombed ship.
The writer says; “it may be of interest to you to know of some of the splendid work done by Mr. Richards and of the example which he showed to me and to about ninety other boys during the dreadful bombing and torpedo attack on our ship, when she came to this country. I expect you know from the radio what befell some of the convoy, but I am sure you would like to know, and it is my first duty to tell you of the part Mr Richards played in the last scene before our ship was sunk.
He remained with the last member onboard and when there was a frightening thought of the unexploded bomb which might go off at any moment, he walked calmly around the decks, shouting to the me, cheering them and getting them together in one place, waiting for boats to be sent to us from the shore. All of the boats had been loaded fully. I was thankful to be in his company, and helped him to carry out instructions he gave to me as sergeant.
He was the same cheerful person as when I knew him in Bromsgrove. He said he was frightened , too, as he has seen some awful sights, but he did not show it; and when they were firing us, he went along getting all the men into boats when he had to slide down the rope. In the small boat which took us away he took charge and gave us ci******es and kept us in good heart.
I must write like this as he was responsible for keeping many of us safe. Then when we got to the shore he saw to the wounded, and afterwards took us to a place of safety away from the dockside. When he had got a place or us to sleep, we had to wake early that morning because the bombers were coming back. When it was dark he marched us to safety up in the hills, leading us calmly through the Arab quarters, and not knowing if they were or the French were still hostile to us. I am told that he has been rewarded for his work by a mention in despatches. His wonderful calmness and courage and cheerfulness will deserve more than this.
I am a churchman and was in Bromsgrove therefore I write to you as I lived in Redditch and would like you to make known, if it has not already been done, of what Mr. Richards did – It is his kind that we want in the church, and if it is to be a strong church in the future and to attract young people, it will be a clergyman like Mr. Richards who will do it. I must finish, but I must give you the news which everyone in Redditch and those of you who know Mr. Richards should be told. I am going to write to his wife and tell her how grateful I am to him for saving life by his gallant example and devotion to his men and anyone he could help. I hope you will be able to read this and give it publicity in your paper”
The letter was addressed to Mr. L.M Millar, formerly organist at Astwood Bank Church.