Sir John Richards | |
---|---|
Born | 21 February 1927 |
Died | 5 October 2004 Aix-en-Provence, France | (aged 77)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Marines |
Years of service | 1945–1981 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held |
Commandant General Royal Marines (1977–81) 3 Commando Brigade (1976–76) 42 Commando (1970–72) 45 Commando (1968–69) |
Battles/wars |
Malayan Emergency Aden Emergency |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
Lieutenant General Sir John Charles Chisholm Richards, KCB, KCVO (21 February 1927 – 5 October 2004) was a Royal Marines officer who served as Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in the Royal Household from 1982 to 1991.
Educated at Worksop College, Richards joined the Royal Marines in 1945. [1] He was appointed commanding officer of 45 Commando in 1968, commander of 42 Commando in 1972, [2] and commander of 3 Commando Brigade in 1975 before becoming Commandant General Royal Marines in 1977 and retiring in 1981. [1]
In retirement Richards became Her Majesty's Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in the Royal Household from 1982 to 1991. [3] [1] As such, he accompanied Pengiran Mustapha bin Pengiran Metassan ( Brunei high commissioner to the United Kingdom) when he delivered his letters of credence to Queen Elizabeth II on 20 November 1990 at Buckingham Palace. He also attended a banquet in London in February 1992 to commemorate Brunei's eighth national day. Richards died at Aix-en-Provence on 5 October 2004. [4]
In 1953 Richards married Audrey Hidson; they had two sons and one daughter. [1]