Subject

St. Michael

Text

Saint Michael

Inscription

To the memory of our son William Clive Richardson [58/59 Bn.] Killed in action Salamaua, New Guinea, 9th August 1944. "For our tomorrow, he gave all"

Description & History

St. Michael was a popular representative for commemorative windows and is depicted here in golden glory. The window, measuring 81 1/2 x 20 3/4 inches and a tracery piece, was ordered by his father, Mr. JF Richardson late 1948 and it was therefore likely that installation did not occur until the following year. The same cartoon was used by Brooks, Robinson & Co. at Holy Trinity, Oakleigh (1947-48), also attributed to William Kerr-Morgan and at the Presbyterian Church, Westmere (1948) and the Methodist Church at Newtown, Geelong (1949).

William Clive Richardson was born on 8 June 1916 at Moonee Ponds, son of John Francis and Margaret Reid Richardson. Aged 24 years, Richardson enlisted in the militia 58 Battalion at Mount Martha and trained throughout 1941 and the first half of 1942 in a number of camps. He was promoted to Acting Corporal in July 1942, a month before the Battalion became the 58/59 and transferred to the AIF. After further training in Townsville the battalion headed to Port Moresby on 11 March 1943. Richardson was killed in action during the long battle for Salamaua, and was buried near Komiatum, only about six miles from the Japanese. He is commemorated on the Port Moresby Memorial. A memorial to all the men from the 58/59 Battalion was installed in St. Brigid's Catholic Church, Mordialloc, with the same saint, St. Michael, as its subject, the representation of good and evil.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B883, VX102881 Brooks, Robinson & Co. job books 1923-c.1966; http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2802071/RICHARDSON,%20WILLIAM%20CLIVE.