264661 L/Cpl. Robert Walmsley Richardson British Army 46th Btn. C Sqn. 12 Trp. Royal Tank Regiment from:London Robert Richardson fought in the Western Desert in North Africa in the tank war. He the landed in Sicily on 10th of July 1943, and was in Salerno for Christmas 1943 with training, in anticipation of Anzio. In November 1943 he was at Capua in an operational role. Landed at Taranto with 4th Armoured Brigade, re-embarked from Manfredonia in an operational role, moved up from south of Foggia through Termoli and finaly to Sangro River in a fighting role. The First tanks across river Frigno and were spearhead in San Salvo battle. Les Iliffe was wounded here. It was reputedly the largest tank battle in Italy. On 22nd of January 1944 he landed at Anzio as assault troops at 1hr after H hour on 22nd. They held the line facing Aprilia after our withdrawal from it until they finally assisted in the breakout and subsequent advance to Rome. Bob's tank was one of the tanks which did point troop in the vanguard and they were the first British troops to reach Rome.
Les Iliffe received his second wound at Anzio. He was the only member of Bob's tank to be injured at any time. Other tanks in the troop were not so lucky. Bob then moved into Greece for the civil war
Tank crew were:
Beckett, Kennedy, Richardson, Iliffe
and Floyd. Replacements were:
Tpr Precious, Huddy and Hancock.
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