Person Record

Metadata

Name

Richards, Leonard Watson

Othernames

"Wat Richards"

Born

12/21/1912

Birthplace

Grey County

Places of residence

Sydenham Township, Grey County
England (Second World War)
Owen Sound, Grey County

Father

Herbert Ralph Richards

Mother

Emma Amelia Scarrow

Nationality

Canadian

Notes

Leonard Watson Richards, usually known as "Wat" Richards, was a Grey County "boy" who served overseas with the R.C.A.F. as an airfield mechanic in England during the Second World War. He belonged to 411 Squadron, and he was very proud of his unit. He was able to work on Mark 4 Spitfires. He said that he also was lucky enough to be with the first Canadian-operated Spitfires (fighter craft) in England. He recalled that Air Marshal William Avery Bishop (from Owen Sound, Ont.) visited his squadron once. Corporal Leonard Watson Richards was honourably released from active service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in October of 1945.

"Wat" Richards was a son of Ralph Richards and Emma Amelia Scarrow. He was born on December 21, 1912 in Grey County. He married Helen Mildred Agnew at Owen Sound on Feb. 29, 1954. He worked at R-B-W (Richardson, Bond & Wright) a printing company in Owen Sound) for many years and lived at Sunny Valley, before retiring to Owen Sound.

His father, Herbert Ralph Richards, was from Arran Township, Bruce County, and Wat's mother, Emma Scarrow, was from Sullivan Township, Grey County. They married on May 22, 1907. Emma (Mrs. Ralph Richards) was a long-time member of the Sydenham Township Women's Institute (about 35 years).

Watson Richards served as President of the Scenic City Kiwanis Club at Owen Sound from 1976-1978.

Wat Richards passed away at Owen Sound on November 16, 1999.

Occupation

-R.C.A.F. 411 Squadron Airfield Mechanic (Second World War Veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force)
-RBW employee (Richardson, Bond & Wright Limited, a printing company)
-President of the Scenic City Kiwanis Club (1976-1978)

Publications

-1853-1978: 125 YEARS OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF PURPOSE AND SKILL (RBW Inc., Owen Sound), 1979, p. __
-Ontario Birth Registration record (Dec. 21, 1912)