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How a butcher became a medical orderly

online resource
posted on 2024-06-05, 19:56 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

John Vivien Richards, born in 1920, was in the RAF as a medical orderly between 1940 and 1944. He was a butcher in Cornwall. He was given the job as a medical orderly because he was used to seeing blood. He was a medical orderly in Air Sea Rescue in Dover. It was a high-speed rescue to pick up downed airmen. He went to India on 09.06.1944 and remained there until 01.04.1946. There are photos of two hats he wore in India. He was discharged and demobilized in 1946. His wife was in Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). They met at a RAF base in Wroughton, Swindon.

History

Item list and details

1. Pith helmet 2. Felt hat 3. File

Person the story/items relate to

John Vivien Richards

Person who shared the story/items

John Brian (Dick) Richards

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

He was the contributor's father.

Type of submission

Shared at Fitzharrys School, Oxfordshire on 16 September 2023.

Record ID

117915 | FIZ014