Our cousin, Sir General

 Recognizing the life of Robert Francis Richardson 1929 - 2014

He was known as “Big Bob” because he was tall and, I think, carried an air of competent authority. But his distinguished career was not handed to him on a plate.  He was a working class boy who worked and studied hard. He is Helen’s mother’s first cousin, and so he is my third cousin once removed. 

Robert Francis Richardson came from a long line of wine and spirits merchants in the port town of Leith. Trade was probably good. His grandfather, father and many uncles were all in the trade, but there were risks. 1895 was a horror year for his family. In the space of a few months his grandfather died in a far-distant health facility, called the Hydropathic Institute, of an alcohol-induced mania, lasting just 2 days. It took some time to find his family several counties away. Soon after this his youngest child aged just one year and nine months died of scarlet fever, while his wife and mother of the other sons died a few months later of vomiting and diarrhea - whether infective or toxic is not known.

Three boys including Big Bob’s father aged 3 were truly orphans and were taken in by their maternal grandparents. Legend has it that a substantial inheritance of £1000 pounds was left by his grandfather (Robert James Buchan Richardson) when he died so suddenly; but when time came for educating the boys the money was gone, and a maternal relative had fled the country - to Australia no less. These boys learned to look after themselves, like staying in churches where some warmth could be had. 

Big Bob’s father was also named Robert Buchan Richardson, and he became a wine and spirits merchant, because that was what his paternal uncles knew.  He lost one brother in WW1. With his wife he raised five healthy children who all lived well over 70, three girls followed by two boys. 

Big Bob did well in normal schooling, and particularly enjoyed the cadet experience. I have read his privately published memoir but the details are immense. Overall he seems to have considered himself very lucky, meeting good people, working hard, and before he knew it he was doing well in the Army, while his girlfriend emigrated to Australia. She came back eventually and a long happy marriage was sadly ended with her sudden death from cancer in her 50s. His descriptions of what her life was like as an Army wife in sometimes appalling accommodation in the early years are vivid and thoughtful.

In that time, he, and then they, had postings to Germany, India, Egypt, three tours of Northern Ireland in increasingly senior positions, Korea, educating cadets and more administration. It is a pity that his memoirs were only privately published because his memory for detail and engaging ability to summarise complex situations does deserve a wider readership.

I found oodles of references to him online, national biographies and newspaper articles, so please go there for detail. All through his career he rose steadily upwards. Being given a knighthood aboard the yacht Britannia was probably his biggest surprise. He used relationships with friends and foes, courtesy and direct speaking to get the job done. 

After retiring he took on administering the MacRobert Trust for injured serviceman, was Lieutenant of the Tower of London and took up golf.

His grandchildren, and own children, have always been a source of great happiness; he wrote of their life experiences in this globe trotting career. Nine boys and just one girl. He did come to Australia once on holiday, as his wife’s parents and sister did stay here. In the delightful picture below, the only female in the picture is the only one not wearing a skirt (um, kilt).

It seems hard not to like him, but you make up your mind.

The Buchan name lives strong is this branch of the tree, albeit after a shaky start with our ancestor Robert Buchan abandoning baby Jane Drysdale - was he in jail or just married already? To my knowledge, one of Big Bob’s grandchildren named Buchan Richardson, is the first one of us to use Buchan as a first name. Our tree is riddled with Buchan as a middle name. I like it - well done Big Bob’s son.