Lt. Charles Richer, Canadian Film & Photo Unit, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion By Roy Akins Charles Henry Richer was born 5 January 1918 in Toronto, Ontario. He was an accountant by trade and for many years had made of hobby of amateur photography. He was living with his parents at 242 Golf Street in Oshawa when he volunteered for service on 29 May 1941. 242 Golf Street, Oshawa Gunner Richer was initially attached to the Royal Canadian Artillery. On 29 April 1942 the now Trooper Richer joined the Canadian Armoured Corps (CAC) and proceeded to A-9 Advanced Training Centre at Camp Borden. Having a high aptitude for the CAC, in September he was recommended for a commission and by November he was enrolled in Officer Cadet School. After successfully completing the requisite training, he was promoted to the rank of 2/Lt. effective 14 February 1943. The following month he qualified as Driver Class III (Wheeled) and given permission to marry his fiancé Kathleen Churchill, which he did on 24 April 1943. In May he was transferred to A-33 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Establishment for Advanced Training, and on 10 June was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Subsequently Richer received additional training at the Officer Training Centre in Brockville and 2 Vocational Training Centre in Toronto.
Lt. Richer s Canadian Army ID
On 3 April 1944 Lt. Richer disembarked in the UK and was attached to 1 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit. On 12 August he was assigned to Canadian Military Headquarters, Public Relations Group and on 14 March 1945 he was transferred to 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion. Richer was to lead two other men of the Canadian Film & Photo Unit in covering the largest airborne assault in history, Operation VARSITY. On 24 March at 1115 hours Lt. Richer landed at Bergerfurth, Germany in a General Aircraft Hamilcar Glider. This was extremely hazardous as gliders had to land on open ground amidst enemy artillery, mortar, sniper and machine gun fire and their flimsy plywood construction offered no protection. General Aircraft GAL49 Hamilcar
Lance-Corporal Gordon A. Comeau, 7 Platoon, "C" Company, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and Corporal Lewis G. Wiseman dug in as protection against German shellfire and mortar fire, Bergerfurth, Germany, 24 March 1945. LAC photo Photographer: Lt. Charles H. Richer
Major P.R. Griffin, Commanding Officer, "A Company, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, taking a break after inspecting wounded members of his company, Bergerfurth, Germany, 24 March 1945. LAC photo Photographer: Lt. Charles H. Richer
Lt. Richer (L) standing at the gravesite of Lt. Col. Jeff Nicklin, commander of 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion, who was killed in action on March 24, 1945. LAC photo.
Lt. Richer continued to photograph the activities of 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion as it advanced eastward across Germany, crossing the Elbe River, and the race to Wismar in advance of the Russians. (L-R): Sergeant C.M.G. (Mike) Lattion, Sergeant A. H. (Al) Calder, Lieutenant Charles H. Richer. Wissel, Germany: March 27, 1945. LAC photo. Lt. Richer and Sgts. Lattion and Calder were among the first to enter Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp on 15 April 1945 and were tasked with taking evidentiary photos. In the book Distance from the Belsen Heap by Mark Celinscak Sgt. Calder recalls that Bergen-Belsen was one I hate to even think about; something that you could never put into a picture hit us...the sounds that came from these people, whimpering sounds, utter misery, unbelievable conditions.
Lt. Richer carries a Franke & Heidecke Rolleiflex Automat Model 2 TLR Camera.
Sgt. C.M.G. (Mike) Lattion of CFPU cleaning his Sten MkV submachine gun, Lembeck Germany 29 March 1945. LAC photo Photographer: Lt. Charles H. Richer
Sgt. Lattion is wearing a captured German Army belt & buckle.
Private L.H. Johnson and Sergeant D.R. Fairborn of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion with a PIAT, Lembeck, Germany, 29 March 1945. a LAC photo Photographer: Lt. Charles H. Richer a Projectile, Infantry, Anti-Tank
Personnel of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, Greven, Germany, 4 April 1945. LAC photo Photographer: Lt. Charles H. Richer
Sergeant A.H. Calder (left) of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit talking with a Russian cameraman, Wismar, Germany, 7 May 1945. LAC photo Photographer: Lt. Charles H. Richer
Lt. Richer would remain in Germany until 31 October 1945. He was discharged on 19 February 1946 and transferred to the Reserve of Active Officers. Lt. Richer received the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. After 19 months with CFPU, he held the distinction of being one of the most prolific WW2 stills photographer in the Canadian Army. Richer re-entered civilian life learning the retail business with Simpsons-Sears and was soon in charge of opening new stores from coast to coast for the Sears-Roebuck chain subsidiary. In 1955 he moved to executive leadership with Don Mills Development Ltd. and was soon appointed manager of the Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre. At the time it was the largest regional shopping complex in Canada. In 1961 Richer moved to Phoenix, AZ and became the General Manager of the Shopping Centre Division for the Del E. Webb Corporation. In 1964 he developed the Escondido Village Mall, the first shopping centre to open in California with a fully enclosed, air conditioned mall. In 1968 he became Vice-President of Benfid Realty Company. That same year he was retired from the Supplementary List of the Canadian Armed Forces having reached the compulsory release age of 50. Lt. Charles Richer passed away in Escondido, California on 2 August 1999 at the age of 81. Charles Richer in 1969.
A Franke & Heidecke Rolleiflex Automat Model 2 TLR Camera as used by Lt. Richer. This model was produced between 1939-45.
Lt. Richer would have received a Glider-Trained Infantry Badge such as this, awarded after one operational glider landing.
Lt. Charles Richer s Memorabilia
Service Identification Tag UK-made Cap Badge
Pegasus Airborne Insignia
Issue Embroidered CFPU Insignia
Slip-on Shoulder Strap
Lt. Richer wearing the above shoulder strap. LAC Photo