Charles Valentine Richards was born on September 12, 1915, the son of William Richards, of 152 John Street, Sarnia. Charles was a graduate of Sarnia Collegiate. He was very active in the work of St. John’s Anglican Church, Devine Street, being secretary of the Sunday school for some years and being an active member of the Dramatic Club. Charles was also an active member of the old Sarnia Drama League in its heyday before the war. Prior to the war, he was a member of the local engineers unit and was employed for several years at Imperial Oil as a laboratory assistant.

Charles Richards was a member of the Sarnia engineers unit for some years before the outbreak of war. Single at the time, Charles enlisted for active service in the Canadian Army on the first day of mobilization. After training in Canada, he went overseas in August of 1940 with the Canadian Army. He served in England until the fall of 1942, when he returned home and then served as an instructor at Chilliwack, British Columbia for some months. He returned to England in August 1943, as a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers, 11th Field Company, and went to France with an advanced party immediately following D-Day in June 1944. After that time, he served in the European war theatre, having been with his unit in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany.

On March 18, 1945, Sergeant Charles Valentine Richards would lose his life while fighting in Germany, during the Liberation of the Netherlands. In late March of 1945, father William Richards in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing him that his son, Sergt. Charles Valentine Richards, 11th Field Company R.C.E., has been killed in action. No other information was provided. Almost two months after Charles Richards death, the war in Europe would end. Charles Richards would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Germany). In late March of 1945, a short memorial service for Charles Richards was held during the regular evening service at St. John’s Church, Devine Street, Sarnia. Twenty-nine year old Charles Valentine Richards is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, Grave V.D.11.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, N, 2C, 2D