Brigadier Collen Edward Melville Richards, CBE, DSO, MC (1888–1971) was a senior officer in the British Army who served during the First and Second World Wars.

Joining the East Lancashire Regiment in 1911,^[1] Richards served during the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 and the Distinguished Service Order in 1919.^[2][3] For his "good services" during the Aliab Dinka Uprising of 1919–20, Richards was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Nile by the Sultan of Egypt.^[4] In the Second World War, he commanded the 24th Gold Coast Brigade (12th African Division) during the East African Campaign and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1944 Birthday Honours.^[5] Richards retired from the army on 2 February 1946.^[6]

Command history

• Gold Coast Regiment – 1939
• 4th Gold Coast Brigade, West Africa and East Africa – 1939 to 1940
• Royal West African Frontier Force – 1939 to 1942
• 24th (Gold Coast) Brigade, East Africa – 1940 to 1941
• 24th Gold Coast Brigade, East Africa and South Africa – 1941
• 2nd (West Africa) Brigade, West Africa – 1941 to 1942
• 5th West African Brigade, West Africa – 1942^[7]

References