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On the 4th July 2007 a moving funeral service was in held for Pte Richard Lancashire, a member of the 2nd Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers. Over 300 people, including family members, watched on as his regiment provided full military honours for man who was sadly killed in action aged only 31. In these times, with conflict in many parts of the world, such ceremonies are sadly common place. Yet this particular service seemed particularly poignant. Why? Because Pte Richard Lancashire was being laid to rest some 93 years after he had fallen in battle.

Richard Lancashire was born in Lancashire, England, in 1882 and served in the Regular British Army from 1901-05, when he married Phoebe Porter in Burnley. The marriage certificate lists them both as weavers. In 1914 he was mobilised and sent to France, where he saw action at Le Cateau and Armentires. On the 10th November 1914 Pte Lancashire was killed while participating in a counter attack just south of Ypres, near Ploegsteert Wood in Belgium where a famous Christmas truce took place only weeks later.

Pte Lancashire's remains lay where he fell until they were discovered in May 2005 during archaeological excavations on the former Ypres-Roulers railway, 300 metres from Tyne Cot cemetery. Full military honours were also accorded to two unknown Lancashire Fusiliers. They were buried after their remains were found close to Pte Lancaster but with no clues to their identity.

Pte Lanchashire left behind a young son, also called Richard, who went on to fight in the Second World War. Richard unfortunately died in 2001 and never really knew what had happened to his father. The service, though, provided some closure for his grandchildren and great grandchildren who attended the service in Belgium.

Learn more about this author, Robert Stephenson.
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