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In memoriam

Private Richard Elliott

 

 

Richard Elliott was born on 12 December 1893 at 41 Lewis Street, Belfast, son of labourer Robert Elliott and his wife Annie (nee McAfee). By 1915 he was living with his family at 97 Rugby Avenue in Belfast and working as a breadserver.

He enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 6 November 1915 (No.1799).

In August 1916 Elliott was hospitalised with pleurisy, and was discharged on 11 December 1916 as physically unfit for military service. A medical board found that:

... while in camp [he] was continually getting exposed to cold & wet, without change of clothes. Developed severe cold with cough & spit. This has been gradually getting worse. Pain in both lungs. Sputum contains TB. Night sweats.

It therefore determined that his illness, tuberculosis, resulted from his military service, and he was granted a full pension.

He died at home on 3 March 1918. His place of burial is at present unknown.

Private Elliott was recently accepted as qualifying for commemoration by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His name is now recorded on the Brookwood 1914-1918 Memorial, Surrey, England.