Richard was a chauffeur in seaside town of Southport where
he lived. His was a keen cyclist in the summer months (and won many
championships including the tandem world record.) During the winter months he
turned to cross-country running and also won several championships.
He was part of
the ambulance service fighting in April 1918 near Bethune, France. Due to enemy
attack the platoon had no means of communications. About 200 were wounded but
could not be evacuated to be hospitalised as the road out was full of the
debris from explosions. Private Masters volunteered and after clearing the road
of all sorts of debris, eventually got through.
He made
journey after journey throughout the afternoon over a road which was subject to
constant machine-gun fire and bombing (it was even bombed by an aeroplane.)
He
is the only Ambulance person believed to have received a Victoria Cross.