A bit of history tucked into a box

Details

Published on Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Photos courtesy of the Nault family. Top: One of Pte. Elmer Marvin Richardson’s death notices. Bottom: The telegram Pte. Richardson’s wife received.

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

The life of an auctioneer is never dull, especially when you are digging through boxes and boxes of “goodies” to get ready for an auction sale. 

Just before our Nov. 6 sale, I was rummaging  through boxes to find the more collectible items. One box contained family photo albums which had  been packed in error. I returned those to the family. Deep in another box of books was a slightly battered black binder. Opening first page, a picture of PTE. E.M. Richardson popped off the page. It was easily recognized as his death notice from WWII. Richardson died in action while fighting in Italy in 1943. It said he was survived by his wife, the former Agnes Nault and a daughter, Malvina Rose Richardson. The binder contains the fateful telegram saying Richardson was missing in action.

The book also has letters of condolences from the family of Vincent Massey at Canada House in London and other letters including one from King George.

A family member has been tracked down and the binder will be returned to them.

Condolence letters from the family of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Vincent Massey (top) and King George (bottom).