George Spafford Richardson
A senior officer in the New Zealand Military Forces / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Major-General Sir George Spafford Richardson, KBE, CB, CMG (14 November 1868 – 11 June 1938) was a senior officer in the New Zealand Military Forces.
Sir George Spafford Richardson | |
---|---|
7th Deputy Mayor of Auckland | |
In office 11 May 1938 – 11 June 1938 | |
Mayor | Ernest Davis |
Preceded by | Bernard Martin |
Succeeded by | John Allum |
3rd Administrator of Western Samoa | |
In office 16 March 1923 – 8 April 1928 | |
Monarch | George V |
Preceded by | Robert Ward Tate |
Succeeded by | Stephen Allen |
Personal details | |
Born | (1868-11-14)14 November 1868 Northamptonshire, England, |
Died | 11 June 1938(1938-06-11) (aged 69) Auckland, New Zealand |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Mentioned in Despatches (3) Chavalier of the Legion of Honour (France) Croix de Guerre (Belgium) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom New Zealand |
Branch/service | British Army New Zealand Military Forces |
Years of service | 1886–1928 |
Rank | Major-General |
Commands | New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
Battles/wars | First World War |
Born in Northamptonshire, England, Richardson originally served with the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery as a non-commissioned officer before being transferred to New Zealand to instruct artillery units there. He eventually resigned from the British Army and was commissioned an officer in New Zealand's military. He was in London at the time of the outbreak of the First World War and served in the Siege of Antwerp and the Gallipoli Campaign with the Royal Naval Division. He then transferred to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and served as its administrator in the United Kingdom. He continued to serve in the military until his retirement with the rank of major general.
In March 1923, he was appointed Administrator of Western Samoa and served in this capacity for five years. Towards the end of his time in Samoa, he ineffectually dealt with increasing civil unrest in the country. Retiring in 1928, he returned to New Zealand and became involved in local body politics in Auckland until his death in 1938.