Crowds honour Victoria Cross war hero who saved 200 lives as new headstone unveiled

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to one of the greatest war heroes of the First World War. 

Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918. 

He had signed up aged 42 alongside his brothers to fight in the war. 

An injury to his hand meant he was unable to use a rifle, so he joined the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) attached to 141 Field Ambulance. 

He carried out his act of huge bravery at a place known to the British Army Tommies as ‘Hell Fire Corner’ near Bethune, in France, the only person to get through to rescue the stricken soldiers despite the area being machine gunned, shelled and bombed by an aircraft. 

Private Richard George Masters VC from Southport

Private Richard George Masters survived the war and lived until he was 86 years old, dying on 4th April 1963. 

He was buried in the cemetery at St Cuthbert’s Church in Churchtown in Southport alongside his beloved wife, Alice, who died on 17th June 1943 aged 65. 

Army veterans Roland Sutton and Eddie Byrne went to visit his grave last year and struggled to find it. When they did, they didn’t think it was fitting for a Victoria Cross winner and began a campaign to provide a more suitable headstone. 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Fom left: Tony Ravera; Joanne Rich; Rolan Sutton; Judy Masters; and Jon Price.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

They appealed to find the family through Stand Up For Southport and quickly came into contact with Private Masters’ great nieces, Judy Masters and Joanne Rich. 

Over the past 13 months they have been working together to provide the new headstone and organise the ceremony. 

Between them they funded the £2,000 needed for the headstone to be created. 

The event was attended by a large crowd of people, including dozens of Army veterans, serving Army personnel, High Sheriff of Merseyside Lesley Martin-Wright, Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Carragher, Reverend Rebecca Clarke from St Cuthbert’s Church, members of the public and representatives from  Churchtown Primary School and Birkdale Primary School, where Private Masters had been a pupil growing up. 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. The delegation from Churchtown Primary School. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

The unveiling of the headstone was followed by blessing of the headstone, the exhortation, the playing of The Last Post, a minute’s silence, Reveille, The Kohima Epitaph, and a wreath laying ceremony. 

The headstone was created by Weatherby Memorials Ltd while the order of service was printed by Print Quarter. 

Private Masters’ great niece, Joanne Rich, said: “The service was amazing! 

“I was thrilled that there were so many people there. 

“It was lovely to see so many veterans, dignitaries, family, friends, supporters, schoolchildren and others. 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Judy Masters (left) and Joanne Rich (second left) with Mayor of Sefton Cllt Clare Carragher (third left), High Sheriff of Merseyside Lesley Martin-Wright (fourth left), event organiser Rolan Sutton (fifth left), and other dignitaries. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

“You don’t hear many stories like this one. What my great uncle achieved was exceptional. 

“He was 41 years old when he signed up to join the British Army during World War One, but he went ahead and volunteered. 

“He ended up playing a really big part in the war, saving all those people’s lives. 

“My father and my grandfather used to talk about him all the time. 

“He has always been quite a legend within our family.” 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. The delegation from Churchtown Primary School. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

Private Masters’ great niece, Judy Masters, said: “The service and the unveiling of my great uncle’s headstone has been a really emotional experience.

“I wasn’t expecting to see so many people. 

“I thought there might have been around 20 people there, but it was lovely to see such a huge crowd. 

“Making this happen has been quite an experience. The four of us have funded this between us. 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

“We have held meetings over several months and around 200 cups of coffee in Wetherspoons in Southport to discuss it all! We have got here in the end. It has taken a long time in getting here. 

“I remember my great uncle very well. I was eight years old when he died. 

“He had a long waxed moustache and he always used to squeak it all the time! He used to have a little white Scottie dog. 

“He always wore the ribbons of his medals on his jacket. 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

“As a family, we are so very proud of him. 

“He didn’t talk about what he had done during the war, no-one did. It was just the way people were back then. Other people won medals during the war and it wasn’t something that people talked about. 

“It wasn’t until we were older that we realised just exactly what he had done to win his Victoria Cross.” 

The Citation for the Victoria Cross for Private Richard George Masters read: 

“On 9 April 1918 near Bethune, France, owing to an enemy attack, communications were cut off and the wounded could not be evacuated. 

“The road was reported impassable but Private Masters volunteered to try to get through and after great difficulty succeeded, although he had to clear the road of all sorts of debris. He made journey after journey throughout the afternoon over a road which was being shelled and swept by machine-gun fire and once he was bombed by an aeroplane. 

“The greater number of wounded (approximately 200 men) were evacuated by him as his was the only car (motorised ambulance) which got through.”

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

Eddie Byrne said: “This has been a real team effort. 

“We are all very proud of what has been achieved. 

“This would not have happened without the help of Stand up For Southport, without which we would not have found the relatives of Private Richard George Masters, whose permission we required in order for St Cuthbert’s Church to allow us to proceed with the installation of the remembrance headstone.

“The turnout on the day was magnificent and we are very grateful for everyone who attended.

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

“We have now got a lasting headstone for the people of Southport to celebrate their very own Victoria Cross winner.” 

Roland Sutton said: “To see the reaction of the family members when the headstone was unveiled and the service take place made all of this worthwhile. 

“The hard work in making this happen, all the ups and downs, to achieve what we have achieved has all been worth it. 

Crowds paid their respects as a new headstone was unveiled in tribute to Private Richard George Masters, from Southport, who was awarded a Victoria Cross when he saved the lives of 200 wounded British Army soldiers on 9th April 1918 during World War One. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

“When Eddie and I first tried to find his gravestone, we couldn’t find it. 

“We were determined to do something to create a headstone which was more befitting of a Victoria Cross winner. 

“The gravestone honouring Private Richard George Masters is there forever now as a testament to his courage.”

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