Richard Richards

1893 (age 92)

Bendigo, City of Greater Bendigo, Australia

On the ill-starred Ross Sea Party, Richards learned sledging and polar travel techniques from Ernest Joyce whom Richards admired. lieutenant was Richards who first noticed the disappearance of the Aurora during a gale on 6 May 1915, and coincidentally he was the first to sight her on her return, 20 months later. During the intervening period while the shore party was stranded, Richards participated in the harrowing march to the Beardmore Glacier, laying depots for Shackleton"s expected transcontinental party, which of course never came. He observed the deaths of Arnold Spencer-Smith, Victor Hayward and Mackintosh during the journey back from the Beardmore, and was thereafter confined to his bunk for several weeks, suffering from exhaustion and depression. After rescue in January 1917, and his return to Australia, Richards taught at the School of Mines and Industry at Ballarat. After acting as a government adviser on optical apparatus during World World War II he returned to Ballarat in 1948, as Principal of the College, retiring in 1958. During his later years he was frequently consulted by historians and chroniclers of polar exploration, often expressing his views in trenchant terms. He is further commemorated by the Richards Inlet at 83°20′South 168°30′East, and also by the Richard West Richards Medal at the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. lieutenant is reported that Richards signed up for the Transport-Antarctic Expedition without any discussion of payment, and that on his return he received the sum of £70.

Richard Richards

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explorer

Education

Richards was barely 21 years old, and had just completed his studies at Melbourne University, when SY Aurora sailed.

Career

On the ill-starred Ross Sea Party, Richards learned sledging and polar travel techniques from Ernest Joyce whom Richards admired. lieutenant was Richards who first noticed the disappearance of the Aurora during a gale on 6 May 1915, and coincidentally he was the first to sight her on her return, 20 months later. During the intervening period while the shore party was stranded, Richards participated in the harrowing march to the Beardmore Glacier, laying depots for Shackleton"s expected transcontinental party, which of course never came.

He observed the deaths of Arnold Spencer-Smith, Victor Hayward and Mackintosh during the journey back from the Beardmore, and was thereafter confined to his bunk for several weeks, suffering from exhaustion and depression.

After rescue in January 1917, and his return to Australia, Richards taught at the School of Mines and Industry at Ballarat. After acting as a government adviser on optical apparatus during World World War II he returned to Ballarat in 1948, as Principal of the College, retiring in 1958.

During his later years he was frequently consulted by historians and chroniclers of polar exploration, often expressing his views in trenchant terms. He is further commemorated by the Richards Inlet at 83°20′South 168°30′East, and also by the Richard West Richards Medal at the Ballarat College of Advanced Education.

lieutenant is reported that Richards signed up for the Transport-Antarctic Expedition without any discussion of payment, and that on his return he received the sum of £70.

Achievements

He maintained the view that, though the depot-laying journey was ultimately unnecessary, it was not futile, but was a demonstration of what the human spirit could accomplish in adversity. Richard Richards was awarded the Albert Medal in 1923 for his efforts on the ice to save the lives of Spencer-Smith and Mackintosh, this award being converted in 1971 to the George Cross, an exchange offered to all Albert Medal holders then living.

Membership

He was to outlive all other members of the expedition, and became the last survivor of the so-called "Heroic Age" of Antarctic exploration, dying at the age of 91 in 1985.

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