Richard Ludgvan Staples
He worked on a farm before enlistment.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the son of Albert Asser Staples and Mary Jane Staples. The family moved to New Zealand but, in 1925 when Richard was four years old, his mother was killed by a horse. His father left his children (Richard, Harry, Bert and Jean) in the care of the Salvation Army at Masterton and headed to Australia for employment. The chidren never saw Albert's letter explaining why he had left the children to seek work. When he died in Australia two years later, the children became orphans. The Salvation Army waived the rules to accommodate Harry, technically too young to remain in the home, to allow the family to stay together.
OXFORD (BOTLEY) CEMETERY Plot H/1. Grave 202.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
He joined the RNZAF in October 1942. On completion of a wireless operator's course at Rotorua, Richard went to Calgary, Canada in April 1943 and was awarded a wireless operator/gunner badge at Mossbank, at Saskatchewan. He became a sergeant and was then promoted to Flight Sergeant. Richard arrived in Brighton, UK in February 1944 and was posted to the Observer Advanced Flying Unit at West Feugh airfield, Wigtownshire in May. In June he was posted to 10 OTU at Abingdon to train on Whitleys and meet his future crew mates. In October, they were transferred to 1669 CU at Langar to convert to Halifaxes and then, on 3rd December, they moved to 5 LFS at Syerston. He accrued 215 hours as a wireless operator/gunner.
Unknown
Photo of Richard Ludgvan Staples
Richard Ludgvan Staples
Photo: Courtesy of Helen Nall