Amiens, Passchendaele, Loos, Givenchy, Hackett Woods, St. Julien, Regina Trench! What do these names have in common? They are some of the First World War historic sites where 61 members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were recognized for their valour in battle with the award of the Victoria Cross.

The Victoria Cross is the British and Commonwealth’s highest decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy. It was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1856 and made retrospective to the fall of 1854. In all, 1356 awards have been presented representing actions fought since the Crimea War (1854 - 1856) through to the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the First World War 634 Victoria Crosses were bestowed and two recipients received a bar, indicating a second award of the V.C.

Piper James Richardson is one of four members of the 16th Battalion C.E.F. to receive the award during the First World War and is one of three pipers who have ever received the Victoria Cross.

Richardson’s award was made for rallying his company, October 8, 1916, at Regina Trench, on the Somme, France. After Richardson's company went "over the top" they were held up by concentrations of barbed wire and subjected to intense enemy fire. Richardson played his pipes while walking outside the wire, thereby inspiring his company to successfully rush and capture the position. Later, the same day, Richardson assisted a wounded comrade and was escorting enemy prisoners when he realized he had left his pipes behind. In attempting to retrieve the pipes he was lost in action and is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, France. Richardson was 20 years old and was the son of David and Mary Prosser Richardson of Chilliwack.

The last surviving Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Ernest Alvia "Smokey" Smith passed away at his home in New Westminster August 3, 2005. "Smokey" Smith received his award when serving with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in 1944 at the River Savio, Italy. [One of 16 awarded to Canadians during the Second World War].  In March 2005 Private Johnson Beharry of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment was awarded the first Victoria Cross presented in 23 years for his actions at Al Amarah, Iraq. In December 2006 Corporal Bryan Budd of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for "two acts of exceptional valour" while serving in southern Afghanistan.

Commonwealth nations such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand have created their own version of the Victoria Cross, retaining the original award's traditions but reflecting each nation's desire to develop their own distinct honours system. Only Canada has altered the original design by changing the legend "FOR VALOUR" to the Latin "PRO VALORE".

The Victoria Cross (Canada) established in 1993 has not been awarded.
However the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, established in 1999 was awarded in July 2007 to Corporal Bill Henry Apiata, New Zealand Special Air Service, In January 2009 The Victoria Cross for Australia, established in 1991, was awarded to Trooper Mark Donaldson, Australian Special Air Service. Both of these awards were made in recognition of operations in Afghanistan.

Throughout the world only 7 VC recipients, one Victoria Cross for New Zealand and one Victoria Cross for Australia recipients remain alive today (updated July 13, 2009).

Piper Richardson. A Source of Inspiration

“Suddenly the whole scene changed. Young Richardson took in the situation. Danger seemed to stimulate and accentuate the Scotch intellect. For some reason he hadn’t been allowed to play up to this point. Turning to the sergeant-major in the shellhole beside him, he said, ‘Will I gie ‘em wind?’ ‘Aye mon, gie ‘em wind,’ was the laconic reply. Good God! Look at that! There was a young, smooth-faced boy coolly playing up and down the wire in that hail storm of lead.”

From “Piper Richardson V.C., An Untold Tale of Heroism and Sacrifice”, Colonel C.W. Peck, V.C., D.S.O. and Bar, M.L.A. Chilliwack Progress, Thursday January 5, 1928, p. 1

Colonel Cyrus Wesley Peck commanded the 16th Battalion C.E.F. after Piper Richardson’s death. Peck was awarded the Victoria Cross for an action at Cagnicourt, France, September 2, 1918

The sound of the pipes has a profound effect on troops in battle as its call passes over the battlefield amidst the sounds and carnage of war. Richardson’s deed was inspiring to both his fellow soldiers and to many others.

Recipients of the Victoria Cross are held in high esteem and research is ongoing into their acts of valour and family histories. Both professional and amateur historians have contributed immensely to the study of the Victoria Cross and its recipients, with several books, websites and other sources available to the interested. Several Victoria Cross recipients were featured on contemporary advertising cards produced by tobacco companies, resplendent with images of the heroes, accompanied by their V.C. citations recorded on the reverse of the card.

Piper Richardson did not escape similar attention and is commemorated in books, verse, and song. The Chilliwack Progress newspaper published several stories relating to the Piper during the First World War, the headlines include “Piper Richardson in Gallant Action”, “Recommended for Victoria Cross”, “Victoria Cross for Piper Richardson” and many more.

With the end of the First World War the deeds of Piper Richardson did not fade. In 1921 “The Pipes of War” was published as a record of WWI pipers during the First World War featuring Piper Richardson as the frontispiece. Colonel Cyrus Wesley Peck V.C., D.S.O. and Bar, a former commanding officer of Richardson’s battalion wrote, in 1928, of the young piper, “An Untold Tale of Heroism and Service”. Repeatedly Richardson’s deeds were used at Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire chapter meetings, and in 1940 at Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. For youth Richardson’s valour was featured in the British comic book, “The Victor” produced September 4, 1965.

In Scotland a memorial gate, sponsored by the Hamilton Advertiser newspaper, records the names of 14 Lanarkshire County Victoria Cross recipients.
Unveiled April 2002 Piper James Richardson's name is recorded amongst them.
At the Old Parish Church, Rutherglen, Scotland a brass memorial plaque records the name of James Richardson, and other members of the parish who fell during the First World War. His name is also recorded on the Rutherglen War Memorial, Glasgow Road, Rutherglen, Scotland.

In Victoria, British Columbia a series of framed images of provincially related Victoria Cross recipients are exhibited at the Parliament Buildings. One commemoration features Piper James Richardson. When Chilliwack born M.L.A. Barry Penner read the brief caption he personally became inspired by the young soldier’s accomplishments and sacrifice. Speaking in the house of the Piper’s deeds, Barry Penner has raised considerable interest in the project, and has included the Piper within the pages of his own provincial M.L.A.website.

Pipe Major Roger McGuire of the Canadian Scottish, whose Victoria based unit perpetuates the 16th Battalion C.E.F. has been instrumental in identifying a set of bagpipes found on the battlefield of the Somme. The bagpipe cover is the Lennox tartan only used by the 16th Battalion Pipe Band, and may have belonged to either Piper James Richardson or Piper John Park, both 16th Battalion Pipers lost October 8, 1916. Interest in these pipes coinciding with the Chilliwack statue project brought significant international attention to Piper James Cleland Richardson. In October 2006 these pipes were purchased from Ardvreck School, Crieff, Scotland by the Canadian Club of Vancouver and repatriated to the province of British Columbia. For years the pipes were safe guarded by a teacher and former British Army Chaplain, Major Edward Yeld Bate who found the unidentified pipes in 1917. Thankfully Major Bate's thoughtful caring of the pipes and Pipe Major Roger McGuire's research, has led to their eventual return where they will be permanently exhibited in the rotunda of the Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C.

In Chilliwack Piper Richardson is recorded on the Chilliwack War Memorial, unveiled April 9, 1923. At Cooke’s Presbyterian Church, Wellington Avenue, his name is recorded on the First World War Honour Roll of the parish. Between 1926 - 1984 the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire operated the Piper Richardson Chapter in the City of Chilliwack. On Broadway Avenue, Branch 4, Royal Canadian Legion operates the Piper Richardson housing project.