Richard Walter (Dick) Richards was born on 14 November 1893 in Bendigo, Australia. He attended Bendigo High School and studied mathematics and science at Melbourne University. He was lecturing at the Junior Technical School in Ballarat when he was selected as physicist on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition [Ross Sea Party], 1914-1917 (leader Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton).
Richards was a member of the party which had the task of laying a chain of depots across the Ross Ice Shelf towards the Beardmore Glacier, providing supplies for Shackleton's trans-polar party. As one of the few capable of hauling during the gruelling southern journey, he was instrumental in saving the lives of several companions, an achievement for which he was awarded the Albert Medal (later exchanged for the George Cross). On his return to the base at Cape Evans in July 1916, Richards became seriously ill and was looked after by John Lachlan Cope.
After the expedition, he resumed teaching in Australia, and in 1946, was appointed principal of the School of Mines and Industry at Ballarat, a position he held until his retirement in 1958. He died on 8 May 1985 at Point Lonsdale, Australia.
Published work, Verbatim copy of diary kept by R.W. Richards from 23 February 1916 to 19 March 1916, during the Shackleton Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917, published in 1959, SPRI Library Shelf Special Collection (7)91(08)[1914-1917] and The Ross Sea shore party 1914-1917 by Richard W. Richards, Scott Polar Research Institute Special Publication Number 2, Bluntisham Books & The Erskine Press (2003) SPRI Library Shelf (7)91(08)[1914-1917 Shackleton]
From the guide to the Richard Walter Richards collection, 1914-1985, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)
