Richard Henry Burton
Private (later Corporal), 1st Battalion. The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment
- Register No.
- 156 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private (later Corporal) (register: Private) all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment all Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 8 October 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 4th January 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 29th January 1923 at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Died
- 11th July 1993 at Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- St Mary's Church, Kirriemuir, Scotland
Digest of citation
On 18th October, 1944 at Monte Ceto, Italy, when an assault was held up, Private Burton rushed forward from his platoon and engage a Spandau position with his Tommy gun, killing three of the crew. Later, again showing complete disregard for his own safety he dispose of the crews of two machine-guns and thanks to his outstanding courage the company was able to consolidate the position. Afterwards, in spite of the fact that most of his comrades were either dead or wounded, he repelled two counter-attacks, directing such accurate fire that the enemy retired
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BURTON, Richard Henry (reg No. 156)
Private (later Corporal) 1st Battalion. The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.
London Gazetted on 4th January 1945.
Born on 29th January 1923 at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
Died on 11th July 1993 at Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland.
Memorial at St Mary's Church, Kirriemuir, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 18th October, 1944 at Monte Ceto, Italy, when an assault was held up, Private Burton rushed forward from his platoon and engage a Spandau position with his Tommy gun, killing three of the crew. Later, again showing complete disregard for his own safety he dispose of the crews of two machine-guns and thanks to his outstanding courage the company was able to consolidate the position. Afterwards, in spite of the fact that most of his comrades were either dead or wounded, he repelled two counter-attacks, directing such accurate fire that the enemy retired.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St Mary's Church, Kirriemuir, Scotland
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