2nd Lieutenant Richard Hartley CARSON
5th (Reserve) Battalion Grenadier Guards attached to the 1st Battalion

Date of birth: 4th February 1898
Date of death: 4th September 1917

Died of wounds aged 19
Buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery Plot IV Row F Grave 4
Richard Hartley Carson was born at 3 Cranley Gardens, Brompton in London on the 4th of February 1898 the eldest son of James Hartley Carson, a gentleman, and Kathleen Annie Lucy (nee Vignoles) Carson of Bleak House, Dyke Road in Hove. He was christened at St Peter's Church, Cranley Gardens in London on the 15th of March 1898.

He was educated at Cottesmore School, Brighton from September 1907 to December 1912 and at Lancing College where he was in Heads House from January 1913 to February 1916. He was a member of the Shooting VIII in 1914.

While still at school he applied for a place at the Royal Military College Sandhurst on the 18th of February 1916. He underwent a medical examination at London on the 26th of February where it was recorded that he was five feet nine and half inches tall and that he weighed 154lbs. On leaving Sandhurst and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards on the 27th of October 1916 and was posted to the 1st Battalion of his regiment.

At the end of August 1917 the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards moved to Rugby Camp in the Bluet Farm area near the village of Elverdinge to the northwest of Ypres. On the 1st of September they moved back into the front line for a four day tour where they endured sporadic shelling. On the 2nd of September Richard Carson was hit by shrapnel from one of the shells. He was evacuated to No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station where it was initially thought that his wound was not serious but his condition deteriorated.

His father received the following telegram dated the 5th of September 1917; -

"Regret to inform you that No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station reports September fourth 2/Lt R.H. Carson 1st Grenadier Guards dangerously wounded. Regret permission to visit cannot be granted. Further news sent when received."

His father received a further telegram dated the 6th of September 1917: -

"Deeply regret to inform you that 2/Lt R.H. Carson 1st Grenadier Guards was wounded September second & died of wounds September fourth, The Army Council express their sympathy."

In a letter to his father dated the 10th of September it was reported that he had died of a penetrating gunshot wound to the back and left shoulder.

His Commanding Officer wrote:-

"He was a great credit to his regiment"

A brother officer wrote:-

"The first time under fire he showed no sign of fear, but was obviously looking for further experiences......he did admirably and coolly with the first jobs entrusted to him."

He is commemorated on the war memorial in the library at Hove in Sussex and on the memorial at the Royal Military College Sandhurst. His mother applied for his medals in February 1922.
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