Born in Liverpool on 19 December 1919, Albert Richards was the son of Hannah Beatty and George Richards, a First World War veteran and wood machinist.

He grew up in Wallasey, where he attended local schools and developed a passion for art. In 1939, he earned a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, but his studies were cut short after just three months.

As war engulfed Europe, Richards felt compelled to serve his country. His artistic vision would soon be shaped by the Second World War.

Richards enlisted as a sapper in the 286 Field Company, Royal Engineers, where he was promoted to lance corporal.

His duties included constructing barrack huts and defence works across England. During this time, he painted scenes depicting these tasks and submitted several works to the War Artists' Advisory Committee (WAAC), which began purchasing his artwork in May 1941, impressed by their freshness and quality.

In 1943, seeking new challenges, Richards volunteered for parachute duties and trained at the No.1 Parachute Training School at RAF Ringway near Manchester. His experiences during this period inspired paintings such as "Kilkenny's Circus" and "Parachute Training over Tatton Park."

In December 1943, he accepted a six-month commission from the WAAC and was granted an honorary commission with the rank of captain in March 1944, making him Britain's youngest official war artist.

Despite the dangers of airborne combat, he thrived in the role. His experiences as a paratrooper would become a defining aspect of his war art.

Unlike many war artists who worked from the safety of military bases, Richards was embedded directly with frontline units.

His firsthand experience lent an authenticity to his work, making him one of the few artists to witness and record the realities of D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the liberation of France and Belgium.

On D-Day (6 June 1944), Richards parachuted into France with the 6th Airborne Division, participating in the assault on the Merville Battery and the capture of Le Plein village.

Richards' work offers a unique visual account of the war. His paintings depict paratroopers mid-drop, soldiers trudging through devastated towns, and the eerie calm of battle-ravaged landscapes.

Unlike the more traditional military portraits, his work captured motion, emotion, and the unpredictability of war.

His brushstrokes reflected both the dynamism of combat and the quiet, haunting moments in its aftermath. His piece “Arnhem, September 1944”, for instance, illustrates the chaos of Operation Market Garden. Another painting, “D-Day Paratroopers”, brings to life the intensity and determination of those who jumped into occupied France.

Richards’ ability to blend artistic expression with military realism made his work invaluable.

Richards survived the most harrowing moments of the war, parachuting into combat zones and documenting history in motion.

But as victory loomed, tragedy struck. In March 1945, as the Allies advanced into Germany, Richards was in the area near Gennep in the Netherlands.

On 5 March 1945, while traveling in a jeep, he tragically drove over a landmine and was killed instantly. He was just 25 years old.

His death was a devastating loss, not just for the world of art but for the nation he so bravely served. 

Richards was buried in Milsbeek War Cemetery in the Netherlands, alongside 210 Commonwealth servicemen who gave their lives for peace.

Though his life was brief, Richards' legacy endures.

His work remains in major collections, including the Imperial War Museum, the Tate, and the Waller Gallery in his hometown of Liverpool, serving as an enduring testament to the war’s unsung heroes.

Unlike many war records that focus on the great battles, Richards’ paintings bring to life the individual stories of those who served. His artistry ensured that the sacrifices of the paratroopers, engineers, and frontline soldiers would never be forgotten. Through his paint and canvas, he immortalised moments of bravery, fear, and humanity in war.

Today, as we reflect on Albert Richards' extraordinary journey, we are reminded that history is not only written in words but also painted in strokes of colour, capturing the very essence of sacrifice and service.

It is something that also reflects the work at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and our mission to remember all the casualties who gave their lives for enduring peace.