Richard Masters 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.