Born 30 September 1873 at Isleworth Vicarage, the younger son of the Rev H W P Richards, prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral, and his wife Jessie Margaret, daughter of the Rt Hon Peter Erie, QC, PC. He was a King's Scholar at Eton 1887-92, from whence he went up to New College, Oxford; he took first-class honours at Classical Moderations 1894, and a second-class in physiology 1896. He was a Wykeham Prize Fellow of his College 1898-1905. Richards received his clinical training at Guy's Hospital, qualifying in 1902. He took the Fellowship in 1905, and proceeded MD the same year and MCh the next. Richards served as a dresser during the South African war, winning the Queen's medal with three clasps. In 1905 he was appointed professor of clinical surgery in the Egyptian Government School of Medicine at Cairo. During nine years in Egypt he gained valuable experience and did much sound work, especially in the Egyptian military hospital. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he went to France, serving under Sir Cuthbert Wallace with the First Army. He was one of the first to undertake, contrary to general orders, extensive abdominal surgery near the front line, where his successful results won approval. For two years he did invaluable service in No 6 casualty clearing station at Barlin, in association with A Tudor Edwards. He was promoted colonel, Army Medical Service, on appointment as a consultant, was three times mentioned in despatches, won the DSO in 1915, and was created CMG in 1918. He went again to Cairo in 1919, where he was director of the Royal School of Medicine till his retirement in 1924, when he was awarded the Order of the Nile (second class). Richards married on 27 April 1912 Catherine Cressall, who survived him with one daughter. He died on 18 April 1949, aged 75, at Downes, Monkleigh, Bideford, North Devon, where he had been living since 1927. He was a member of the Royal Cruising Club, and became an expert in forestry on his small estate. He left £5,000 and a provisional further £5,000 failing continuance of his family, to New College, Oxford.