Trooper Richard Francis Rawson
1430 Household Cavalry (Infantry Battalion)
Missing in Action 3rd May 1917, aged 26
Lived at 21 Plumbe Street
Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France

Burnleys Great War Centenary

Sponsored by: Anne Phillipson

Born in Burnley in 1889, son of Frank and Betty Rawson of 21 Plumbe St, Burnley, he was one of nine children. His brother, Frank, (No 379115) was a Private with the Signals RE. Richard married Nellie (nee Parker) on 9th Nov 1915 at Holy Trinity Church, Burnley and they lived at 110 Burns St, Stoneyholme.


Richard was in the Household Cavalry (foot soldiers), part of the 10th Brigade in the 4th Division. He took part in the famous Battle of the Somme. He landed in France, aged 26, on 9th November 1916 (this was the day of his first wedding anniversary). The soldiers made their way from the French coast 100 kilometres inland to the heart of the war in France. In April 1917, Richard fought in the Battle of Arras the deadliest battlefield of the war. His regiment was in the centre of the line of attack in the First Battle of the Scarpe to capture 60metre high Vimy Ridge along the River Scarpe. The attack involved troops from three armies. The 4th division was part of the the Third Army which was in the centre of the line. Led by General Allenby, they were to attack from Arras. Twelve tunnels (one 2.5 km long) were built leading up to the frontline to protect the troops on the approach to the front line. 24000 men crawled through these tunnels to the battlefront and the British lines moved 3 kilometres forward. Three days of heavy snowfall brought action to a halt. The 4th Division were involved in another attempt to advance (Third Battle of the Scarpe) on the 3rd May – it was on this day that Richard was killed in action.

(Courtesy of Anne McIntyre)