Fred Richardson was born at York on 5 June 1892, the son of William Richardson and Mary Isabella Richardson. On 28 August 1914 he was serving as Third Mate on the New Zealand Steamship Company’s SS TONGARIRO. He received a Temporary RNR Commission on 11 February 1915. Prior to joining submarines, he served in Armed Merchant Cruisers (AMCs).

He joined the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MAIDSTONE at Harwich ‘for Submarines‘ on 28 April 1917 having been promoted Lieutenant, RNR on 11 February 1917. He was appointed to HMS G9 as Navigating Officer on 19 May 1917. G9 was on patrol in the North Sea on 16 September 1917 and fired a torpedo at the destroyer HMS PASLEY, believing it to be German. The torpedo did not explode, and HMS PASLEY rammed G9 which sank. Fred Richardson did not survive.

Fred Richardson is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 25.