George Richards was born in Ballarat and was a Labourer by trade when he enlisted in the 58th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement on 20 February 1917 at the age of 24. His unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on 16 July 1917. He sailed to England, where on November 1st he was declared an illegal absentee until he was apprehended on December 10th. He was sentenced to 60 days in detention, of which 24 days were remitted. It seems that much of 1918 was taken up with illness or absences without leave. After the war he returned to Australia on the Suevic and disembarked at Melbourne on January 5th 1919. He was discharged as æmedically unfit – old injury right ankle'.
Tree No. 2918