Donald Vaughan Richards – Royal Armoured Corps, 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

 Trooper Donald Vaughan Richards – Royal Armoured Corps, 2^nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Birth and Family Background

Donald Vaughan Richards was born in 1923 at Swansea. He was the son of Reginald Thomas Richards and Maisie Vaughan, who were married in 1921 at Swansea.

1939 Register

The only surviving civilian record for Donald is the 1939 Register, which records the Richards family residing at “Fawnbrake”, Sketty. Reginald Richards was employed as a soap and perfumery commercial traveller and also served as an A.R.P. volunteer. Maisie Richards undertook household duties and was likewise an A.R.P. volunteer, serving as an ambulance driver. Donald Vaughan Richards was recorded as a student preparing for the Civil Service.

Military Service

Donald enlisted in the British Army and served as a Trooper with the Royal Armoured Corps, attached to the 2^nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. The regiment landed in Normandy in 1944 and took part in the Allied advance across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, before entering Germany in the final months of the war.

Wounding and Return to Service

South Wales Daily Post

In August 1944, the South Wales Daily Post reported that Donald had been injured during the fighting in Normandy and was receiving treatment in hospital in the United Kingdom. After recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his regiment for further active service on the Continent.

Final Operations and Death

By April 1945, the 2^nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, serving as an armoured regiment within the Royal Armoured Corps, was actively engaged in the final Allied advance into northern Germany following the crossing of the River Rhine. Armoured units were driving rapidly eastward to seize key towns and transport routes, while encountering rearguard actions, ambushes, and well-sited anti-tank defences from German forces attempting to delay the Allied advance. Casualties continued to occur despite the imminent end of the war.

On 19^th April 1945, during these operations in Germany, Trooper Donald Vaughan Richards was killed in action while supporting the continued advance. His death occurred during the closing weeks of the European war, a period that remained dangerous and costly for front-line units even as victory approached.

Burial and Commemoration

Donald Vaughan Richards
Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany
credit - findagrave

Donald is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany, where many British soldiers who fell during the final stages of the North-West Europe campaign are laid to rest.

Newspaper Report

South Wales Daily Post

Donald’s death was reported in the South Wales Daily Post in May 1945, bringing news of his loss to his family and community at home.