246587 L/Cpl. Richard Burt British Army 81st Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Askam in Furness, Cumbria (d.14th February 1918) Richard Burt was born in 1899, the son of Harry and Isabel Burt who lived at 34 John Street, Askam. Richard had 8 siblings, Anne, Henry, John, William, Isabel and Albert. Before joining up Richard worked for his father who was a carter and coal merchant.
The sad news of Richard's death was conveyed to his parents on 23rd of February 1918, Richard had been in France for 12 months. He was wounded on 28th of January 1918 in the left thigh and taken to Camiers Dannes 4th General Military Hospital, France, where his leg was amputated. Richard failed to recover and died in hospital of his wounds.
Amongst his things sent home was an unfinished letter written in pencil, the tone of which was very cheerful. Another son William was a prisoner of war in Germany about 75 miles from Berlin and worked at a coal mine. He returned home in January 1919 together with Gilbert Brocklebank, whose parents had the Vulcan. Richard's father died in 1937 aged 86 and his mother Isabel died in 1943 aged 84, both are buried at St Peters Churchyard, Ireleth. In 2015 we visited Richard's grave at Etaples, near Le Touquet in France and left messages from Askam and Ireleth to say we remember him.
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