Richard Henry Burton

He rushed gun posts and held that captured position unaided.

Richard Henry Burton was born at Melton Mowbray on 29 January 1923. An apprentice and bricklayer, he joined the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1942 before transferring to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He served in North Africa, at Pantelleria and in the fighting from Anzio through Italy.

On 8 October 1944, during the attack on Monte Cece, machine guns stopped his company. Burton rushed a post with his Tommy gun, silenced it and advanced against further machine guns. He then used a Bren gun against their crews. After his section withdrew, he remained alone in an abandoned enemy position and repelled counterattacks, helping the company secure the feature. He received the Victoria Cross.

He married in Scotland in February 1945. After the war he returned to construction, working in the Melton Mowbray and Kirriemuir areas and eventually becoming a foreman. Retiring in 1986, he died at Kirriemuir on 11 July 1993 and was buried there.

Victoria Cross citation (official excerpt)

Private Burton’s magnificent gallantry and total disregard of his own safety during many hours of fierce fighting…

Official citation: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36876/supplement/207/data.pdf