V.C’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 7

V.C’S DEATH

TWENTY YEARS IN OBSCURITY.

LONDON, February 7

Known as tne bliy V.C.,” since for nearly 20 years lie lived in obscunty and ado wed the world to think lie was dead, Sergeant Arthur Herbert Lindsey Richardson has died in a Liverpool hospital. Ay a youth Richardson went to Canada, and served for 15 years in the North-West Mounted Police. YViien the South African War broke out he joined Lord Stratlicona’s Horse. In an action at Wolvcrspruit on July 5, 1900, a party of his unit, only 38 in number, was engaged with a force of 80 of the enemy. Y\ lien the order to retire had been given Sergeant Richardson rode back under a very heavy cross-fire and rescued a trooper.

i When he returned home he was too ! modest to tell anyone of his honour, and worked for 16 years in Liverpool as a tramway ganger, a cinema attendant, and at other humble employments. On account of his poverty he allowed his relatives and friends to believe him dead. In 1913 his mother received a message from a nurse in Alontreal that lie was dead. He did not contradict this. In 1924 so many stories were in circulation about him that Richardson de- ■ cided to reveal himself. Since then he s' had continued to live in obscurity.