Condon, Richard Merrick

Lieutenant Richard Merrick Condon – 22^nd Battalion AIF

Richard Merrick Condon was born in Beaconsfield Fremantle Western Australia in 1895 to John and Anne Condon. The family lived in Curedale Street but seems to have left WA for Victoria while Richard was still young and he was subsequently educated at Spring Road State School, and later lived at Prahran. After leaving school, Richard took up work as a Clerk but was also studying accountancy. During this time Richard also served in the 47A Senior Cadets where he reached the rank of Acting Captain.

On the 6^th February 1915 in Melbourne Richard offered his services to the AIF and was passed as fit. He was accepted for service and the medical examiner found Richard to be 5 feet 10 ¾ inches in height; weight of 10 stone 7; chest measurement of 35 inches; mild complexion; light brown eyes and Brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

After a period of time in the training depot, Richard was assigned to “B” Company of the 22^nd Battalion AIF with the rank of Sergeant and the regimental number 351. He trained at Broadmeadows Camp for several weeks and on the 8^th May 1915 embarked from Melbourne on the H.M.A.T. “Ulysses”. After arriving in Egypt, the 22^nd joined up with the other battalions of the 6^th Brigade and continued their training for service on Gallipoli. On the 30^th August 1916 Richard as part of the 22^nd Battalion departed Alexandria aboard the transport ship “Southland”, bound for Gallipoli. On the voyage the “Southland” was torpedoed, though fortunately the ship didn’t sink and was able to eventually be sailed into Lemnos. Many of the men had been ordered to abandon ship and went into the Sea and were eventually picked up by other ships. Richard survived this action and made it onto Gallipoli. On the 14^th September he was promoted Acting Company Sergeant Major. By this stage of the campaign the men were holding the trenches, with the August offensive having been brought to a halt. On the 12^th November 1915 Richard’s rank was confirmed as Company Sergeant Major.

After the evacuation of Gallipoli in December 1915 the men were sent back to Egypt, with the 22^nd Battalion arriving in Alexandria on the 7^th January 1916. Training went on for the next few months and on the 22^nd February Richard reverted back to Sergeant at his own request. On the 19^th March 1916 the 22^nd Battalion arrived at Marseilles France and the men were entrained for the north of France.

Arriving in the vicinity of Armentieres, the men gained experience of trench life on the Western Front and they were to spend the next few months in this region. In July 1916 they made their way south to the Somme where they would take part in the actions at Pozieres. On the 2^nd August 1916 while they were in the line Richard was given a battlefield commission and was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant. Earlier in the war he had sat an officer’s exam and had scored 96% and as a result his Colonel recommended him for a Commission, though this was knocked back by the Brigadier who said that Richard was too young to become an officer. However his worth soon proved itself in action by the way of the battlefield commission.

Unfortunately Richard’s time as an officer would prove short as he died from wounds received on the 5^th August 1916. He had been hit during an attack on the German’s position though his conduct during this time brought praise. He was Mentioned in Despatches;

“For gallantry and skill in command of his company after all the officers had become casualties in the attack at Pozieres. He has also distinguished himself by intrepid reconnaissances into No Man’s Land”.

Had he survived the battle he most likely would have received a medal for his actions.

At the time he was given a quick battlefield burial but with the confusion of battle was listed as ‘Missing’. This was changed in early 1917 to ‘Killed in Action’.

It seems his grave was found by the 51^st Highland Division in January 1917 who properly marked the spot. After the war Richard’s remains were found and he was reburied at Pozieres British Cemetery in plot III.E.11.

Further grief would come for his mother Anne, as his father John Denis Condon had also enlisted in the AIF and served with the 46^th Battalion AIF. He was killed at the Battle of Messines on the 11^th June 1917 and is buried at Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

Anne Condon would receive a pension after the death of her son and husband in battle.