Ian Riches
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Ian Hurry Riches KCB
DSO
RM
(27 Sep 1908 - 23 Dec 1996) is a former Commandant-General of the British
Royal Marines
.
in 1927. He served on the battleship Queen Elizabeth
, flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, before being appointed Adjutant of the Plymouth Division RM. He served in World War II
, initially as Brigade Major of 101 Royal Marines Brigade. After taking part in the failed expedition to Dakar, he served in a number of headquarters appointments with the Royal Marine Division until selected to command 43 (RM) Commando.
In November 1944, Ian Riches took command of 43 (RM) Commando, who were up against the German XXI Mountain Corps in the mountains of Yugoslavia
. In January 1945, 43 (RM) Commando were withdrawn from Yugoslavia
and arrived in Italy
as part of 2 Commando Brigade
as a preliminary to taking part in the 8th Army's forthcoming offensive against Kesselring
's defences south of the Po valley.
The task given to 2 Commando Brigade was to clear the German defences on the eastern side of Lake Comacchio
up to the line of the Valetta canal. For several nights before the attack, while 43 (RM) Commando made recce patrols, 40 (RM) Commando
diverted the Germans' attention by playing Wagner very loudly over the loudspeakers. Amidst even greater noise, 43 (RM) Commando launched their night attack on 2 April and quickly gained their first objective. By 0845 hrs Riches had his men across the river and was attacking strongly held positions. By mid-afternoon 43 (RM) Commando had overcome extensive minefields, dykes and machine-gun positions and had succeeded in their attack. As the commandos moved inexorably forward, the point section was held up by machine-gun fire. Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter
recognised the severity of the situation and charged and captured a number of positions, constantly calling for fresh magazines. His extraordinary courage enabled his men to reach the canal bank before he was killed. He was awarded a posthumous VC
, the only VC
awarded to the Royal Marines
in the Second World War. For his part in the operation, Riches was awarded the DSO
.
In 1946 he commanded the Signal School, and, in 1948, 42 Commando RM
based at Malta
. Shortly after arriving he was ordered at four hours' notice to move to Palestine to help oversee the final days of the British mandate. After his return to Malta he was sent with 42 Commando RM
to Hong Kong
on external and internal security. He relinquished command in 1950 and was employed in a number of operational and staff posts, including command of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines in the Canal Zone from 1954.
In 1957 he was promoted to Major-General in charge of Portsmouth Group Royal Marines. In 1959 he was promoted Lieutenant General
and appointed Commandant General Royal Marines
. Finally he was promoted General
in 1961 before retiring in 1962.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Sir Ian Hurry Riches KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
RM
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
(27 Sep 1908 - 23 Dec 1996) is a former Commandant-General of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
.
Military career
Ian Riches was commissioned into the Royal MarinesRoyal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
in 1927. He served on the battleship Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913)
HMS Queen Elizabeth was the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of dreadnought battleships, named in honour of Elizabeth I of England. She saw service in both World Wars...
, flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, before being appointed Adjutant of the Plymouth Division RM. He served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, initially as Brigade Major of 101 Royal Marines Brigade. After taking part in the failed expedition to Dakar, he served in a number of headquarters appointments with the Royal Marine Division until selected to command 43 (RM) Commando.
In November 1944, Ian Riches took command of 43 (RM) Commando, who were up against the German XXI Mountain Corps in the mountains of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. In January 1945, 43 (RM) Commando were withdrawn from Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and arrived in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
as part of 2 Commando Brigade
2nd Special Service Brigade
The 2nd Special Service Brigade was formed in late 1943 in the Middle East and saw service in Italy, the Adriatic, the landings at Anzio and took part in operations in Yugoslavia....
as a preliminary to taking part in the 8th Army's forthcoming offensive against Kesselring
Kesselring
Kesselring is a German surname of:* Albert Kesselring , German field marshal* Fritz Kesselring , Swiss elektric engineer* Joseph Otto Kesselring , American writer* Jürg Kesselring , Swiss neurologist...
's defences south of the Po valley.
The task given to 2 Commando Brigade was to clear the German defences on the eastern side of Lake Comacchio
Comacchio
Comacchio is a town and comune of Emilia Romagna, Italy, in the province of Ferrara, 48 km from the provincial capital Ferrara.-Geography:...
up to the line of the Valetta canal. For several nights before the attack, while 43 (RM) Commando made recce patrols, 40 (RM) Commando
40 Commando
40 Commando RM is a battalion sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet....
diverted the Germans' attention by playing Wagner very loudly over the loudspeakers. Amidst even greater noise, 43 (RM) Commando launched their night attack on 2 April and quickly gained their first objective. By 0845 hrs Riches had his men across the river and was attacking strongly held positions. By mid-afternoon 43 (RM) Commando had overcome extensive minefields, dykes and machine-gun positions and had succeeded in their attack. As the commandos moved inexorably forward, the point section was held up by machine-gun fire. Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter
Thomas Peck Hunter
Thomas Peck Hunter VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
recognised the severity of the situation and charged and captured a number of positions, constantly calling for fresh magazines. His extraordinary courage enabled his men to reach the canal bank before he was killed. He was awarded a posthumous VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the only VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
awarded to the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
in the Second World War. For his part in the operation, Riches was awarded the DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.
In 1946 he commanded the Signal School, and, in 1948, 42 Commando RM
42 Commando
42 Commando Royal Marines is a battalion sized formation of the British Royal Marines and a subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet....
based at Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Shortly after arriving he was ordered at four hours' notice to move to Palestine to help oversee the final days of the British mandate. After his return to Malta he was sent with 42 Commando RM
42 Commando
42 Commando Royal Marines is a battalion sized formation of the British Royal Marines and a subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet....
to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on external and internal security. He relinquished command in 1950 and was employed in a number of operational and staff posts, including command of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines in the Canal Zone from 1954.
In 1957 he was promoted to Major-General in charge of Portsmouth Group Royal Marines. In 1959 he was promoted Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and appointed Commandant General Royal Marines
Commandant General Royal Marines
The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1945...
. Finally he was promoted General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in 1961 before retiring in 1962.