Gordon Dalyell Richardson, OBE, 1917 - 2012
Added on 19 June 2012
With great regret we announce the death of Gordon Richardson, Honorary Life Member and past President of Inverness Field Club. Gordon played a key role in assisting Dr James Bruce with the grant of Arms for the Club.
Gordon died on 11 June 2012 in Canberra, Australia, whither he had returned after spending the earlier part of his retirement in Inverness. He continued to maintain close interest in the Club from Australia.
Before coming to Inverness Gordon had been founding Principal Archivist for the Archives Authority of New South Wales (1961 - 1973); Principal Librarian and Mitchell Librarian at the State Library of New South Wales; Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian Historical Society; President (1967 - 1968) Fellow and Honorary Life Member of the Library Association of Australia.
He was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 2/18th Australian Infantry Battalion in 1940, sent to Singapore in 1941 and captured in 1942 after the fall of Singapore. He was held as a prisoner of war in Sumatra and Changi until repatriation and demobilisation in November 1945. A 2009 Australian TV interview with Gordon describing his war can be watched at the link below.
A Memorial Service for Gordon was held at the Presbyterian Church of St Andrew, in Canberra on 18 June.
We pass our deepest condolences to his children Lindsay (Mrs King), Gordon, and Jennifer (Mrs Fish), his nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.