Francis Philip Woodruff
Encyclopedia
Frank Richards a.k.a. Francis Philip Woodruff DCM
, MM
(1883 - 1961) was born in Monmouthshire
, he was orphan
ed at the age of nine, and was then brought up by his aunt and uncle in the Blaina
area of the South Wales Valleys
in industrial Monmouthshire. The uncle, his mother's twin brother, and surnamed Richards, adopted
Frank who then changed his surname
. During the 1890s Frank Richards worked as coal miner and joined Royal Welch Fusiliers
in 1901, serving in the British Empire
forces in British India under the British Raj
and Burma from 1902 to 1909, after which he transferred to the reserves
. He is best known as the author of one of the most widely-acclaimed memoirs of the Great War to be written by a ranker, Old Soldiers Never Die.
, Monmouthshire where, in the 1890s, he worked as a coal miner. He joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in April 1901 and served in India and Burma from 1902-09 when, having completed his seven years with the colours, he transferred to the military reserve
s. However he extended his reserve service for a further four years until 1912.
A reservist soldier when war broke out in August 1914, working as a timber assistant, Richards rejoined the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in which he remained for the duration of the war.
Remarkably, Richards saw action in virtually all of the major British campaigns on the Western Front
without suffering any notable injury. Unable to return to the coal mines following the war because of a physical injury, Richards was obliged to earn his living from numerous temporary jobs.
Fifteen years after the close of the Great War, Richards published in 1933 his classic account of the war from the standpoint of the regular soldier, and which differs in many ways from memoirs written by officers who joined the army specifically to serve in the war. Old Soldiers Never Die, written with the uncredited assistance of fellow Fusilier Robert Graves
(who, along with Siegfried Sassoon
, receives approving mentions in the book), was an instant success. Richards followed up Old Soldiers with another successful memoir, this time of his service in India, Old Soldier Sahib, in 1936.
Richards, who at no point rose above the rank of private during the war, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
and Military Medal
. He was interviewed by the BBC
for their classic multi-part documentary of the conflict, The Great War
, in 1964.
Frank Richards, who continued to correspond regularly with Robert Graves, died in 1961 at the age of 78.
—about his time on the Western Front
, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
and Military Medal
while always resolutely refusing promotion from the lowest rank of Private.
In 1936 he published a second memoir, Old Soldier Sahib, covering his time in the British Army of India.
Private Frank Richards aka 'Big Dick' features in Captain J.C.Dunn's 'The War The Infantry Knew 1914-1919'
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(1883 - 1961) was born in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, he was orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed at the age of nine, and was then brought up by his aunt and uncle in the Blaina
Blaina
Blaina is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of Monmouthshire.-Notable people:...
area of the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
in industrial Monmouthshire. The uncle, his mother's twin brother, and surnamed Richards, adopted
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
Frank who then changed his surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
. During the 1890s Frank Richards worked as coal miner and joined Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
in 1901, serving in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
forces in British India under the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
and Burma from 1902 to 1909, after which he transferred to the reserves
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
. He is best known as the author of one of the most widely-acclaimed memoirs of the Great War to be written by a ranker, Old Soldiers Never Die.
Career
Richards, an orphan, was brought up by his aunt and uncle in BlainaBlaina
Blaina is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of Monmouthshire.-Notable people:...
, Monmouthshire where, in the 1890s, he worked as a coal miner. He joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in April 1901 and served in India and Burma from 1902-09 when, having completed his seven years with the colours, he transferred to the military reserve
Military reserve
A military reserve, tactical reserve, or strategic reserve is a group of military personnel or units which are initially not committed to a battle by their commander so that they are available to address unforeseen situations or exploit suddenly developing...
s. However he extended his reserve service for a further four years until 1912.
A reservist soldier when war broke out in August 1914, working as a timber assistant, Richards rejoined the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in which he remained for the duration of the war.
Remarkably, Richards saw action in virtually all of the major British campaigns on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
without suffering any notable injury. Unable to return to the coal mines following the war because of a physical injury, Richards was obliged to earn his living from numerous temporary jobs.
Fifteen years after the close of the Great War, Richards published in 1933 his classic account of the war from the standpoint of the regular soldier, and which differs in many ways from memoirs written by officers who joined the army specifically to serve in the war. Old Soldiers Never Die, written with the uncredited assistance of fellow Fusilier Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
(who, along with Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
, receives approving mentions in the book), was an instant success. Richards followed up Old Soldiers with another successful memoir, this time of his service in India, Old Soldier Sahib, in 1936.
Richards, who at no point rose above the rank of private during the war, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
and Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
. He was interviewed by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
for their classic multi-part documentary of the conflict, The Great War
The Great War (documentary)
The Great War is a 26-episode documentary series from 1964 on the First World War. It was a co-production involving the resources of the Imperial War Museum, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, in 1964.
Frank Richards, who continued to correspond regularly with Robert Graves, died in 1961 at the age of 78.
DCM & MM
In 1933 he published his memoir Old Soldiers Never Die—with the help of Robert GravesRobert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
—about his time on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
and Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
while always resolutely refusing promotion from the lowest rank of Private.
In 1936 he published a second memoir, Old Soldier Sahib, covering his time in the British Army of India.
Private Frank Richards aka 'Big Dick' features in Captain J.C.Dunn's 'The War The Infantry Knew 1914-1919'