RICHARDSON, Lyall (1896-1963)
Lyall Richardson became a career soldier after attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon from 1915 until his graduation in 1917. He enlisted in the AIF on 1 January 1918, and embarked on RMS Ormonde with a Special Draft RMC Graduates on 7 March 1918. He then served in Palestine, France and England, embarking for return to Australia on 3 July 1919.
He served between the wars with the Light Horse (Militia) rising to the rank of Brigade Major 2nd Cavalry Brigade, and was a warded the King George VI Coronation Medal. The College magazine, Pegasus, noted that ‘Lt-Col L Richardson is Director of Military Art, Royal Military College, Duntroon’. In the Second World War he served as a Lieutenant-Colonel at Headquarters Lae Base Sub-Area, and was attached to Q Branch HQ First Army AIF on 17 May 1944, before he was posted as OC Admin at RMC Duntroon and Staff School on 30 June 1944. He retired from the AIF on 15 August 1947, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The Australasian newspaper reported in October 1944 that: 'Lieut-Colonel Lyall Richardson is officer commanding the Corps of Staff Cadets at the Royal Military College of Australia' (Duntroon).
Born on 28 June 1896 to parents Austin Godfrey Richardson (1860-1933) and his wife, Laura Amelia nee White, Lyall Richardson entered the College as a day student in 1909 remaining at the School as a student until 1914. His father had been a student at Geelong Grammar School in 1873. At the time of entry his family were living at Prospect Rd, Newtown in Geelong. A good football player, he was a stalwart of the college 1st Football Team from 1911 to 1914. Such was his athletic talent that he became a member of the Athletics Team in 1910, his first year at the School, continuing in the team for five years. He was a School Prefect in both 1913 and 1914.
He death was registered at Parkville, Melbourne on 23 July 1963.
Sources: The Australasian (Melb) 14 Oct 1944 p15; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp 291-292 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives) and Geelong Collegians at the Second World War compiled by James Affleck. p 442 (citing The Pegasus; Australian War memorial; National Archives.); J Corfield and M C Perse. Geelong Grammarians; A Biographical Register Vol 1 1855-1913 p267.