David Richards (British Army Officer) - Courses and Awards

Courses and Awards

Richards has attended the US Brigade Commanders, Combined Joint Force Land Component Commanders, and Joint Task Force Commanders (Pinnacle) Courses. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches for services in Northern Ireland. Richards was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services in East Timor, and made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for services in Sierra Leone (Operation Barras). Richards was appointed and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the July 2007 operational and gallantry awards list for his services in Afghanistan. In addition Richards has also been awarded the General Service Medal with the Northern Ireland Clasp, The International Force East Timor Medal by Australia for services in INTERFET (1999-2000), the Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone, and the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan. Richards was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 for services rendered and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Royal Rifle Volunteers on 1 September 2003, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery on 19 January 2005, and on 1 April 2007 he was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Richards was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 2011 New Years Honours.