Robert Richardson (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Richardson
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|---|---|
| Born | 2 March 1929 Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 21 November 2014 (aged 85) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1949− |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Service number | 408020 |
| Unit | Royal Scots |
| Commands held | 1st Battalion, Royal Scots 39th Infantry Brigade British Forces in Berlin Northern Ireland |
| Battles/wars | Korean War Aden Emergency The Troubles |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Mention in Despatches |
Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Francis Richardson (2 March 1929 – 21 November 2014) was a brave officer in the British Army. He led soldiers in many important roles. From 1982 to 1985, he was the main commander of the British Army in Northern Ireland.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Robert Richardson went to school at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh, Scotland. After school, he trained to be an officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This is a special college for army leaders.
On 16 December 1949, he officially joined the army as a second lieutenant. He was part of a famous Scottish army group called the Royal Scots. He became a lieutenant two years later.
He served briefly at the end of the Korean War. After that, he traveled with his army group to the Middle East. He was promoted to captain in 1955.
Later, he studied at a special college in India. This helped him learn more about leading soldiers.
Leading Soldiers
From 1960 to 1964, Robert Richardson worked at the Ministry of Defence. This is where important decisions about the army are made. He became a major in 1962. He also received an award called the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965 for his good work.
In 1967, he was a key leader during the Aden Emergency. This was a time of conflict in Aden, a place in the Middle East. He was recognized for his bravery there.
He became a lieutenant-colonel in 1968. In 1969, he took command of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots. He led this group of soldiers until 1971. During this time, his battalion went to Northern Ireland several times. He received another award, the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), in 1971.
After this, he taught at the Staff College, Camberley. He was promoted to colonel in 1972.
High Command Roles
In 1973, Robert Richardson became a brigadier. The next year, he was put in charge of the 39th Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland. He worked hard to keep peace and order there. For his efforts, he received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) award.
In 1978, he became the leader of the British Army in Berlin. This was a very important job. He was promoted to major-general and received another award, the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO). He finished this role in 1980.
In 1982, he became the main commander of the British Army in Northern Ireland. He was promoted to lieutenant-general. He also received a very high award, the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).
He had a lot of experience in Northern Ireland. He worked to make sure the local police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, could take over more of the daily security tasks. This helped the army focus on other important duties. He left this command in 1985.
Important Ceremonial Duties
From 1980 to 1990, he was the Colonel of the Royal Scots. This was a special role where he represented his old army group.
From 1992 to 1995, he was the Lieutenant of the Tower of London. This is a historic role at the famous Tower of London.
His medals are now kept in the Museum of the Royal Scots. This museum is inside Edinburgh Castle.
Family Life
Robert Richardson was married to Maureen, who passed away in 1986. They had four children together: Claire, Charles, Jeremy, and Guy.
