Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Private Richard Elliott

 

Richard Elliott enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 6 November 1915 (Service No.1799). he was aged 21 and lived at 97 Rugby Avenue, Belfast. He was the son of Robert and Ann Elliott. He listed his profession was breadserver. 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 resulted from his military service, and he was granted a full pension.

Elliott died at home on 3 March 1918 from tuberculosis.

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