BORN FIFE, SCOTLAND, 18/06/1892. SON OF SERGEANT MAJOR, ALEXANDER HENRY PEGG HUITT (1870-1929) & CAROLINE FURMIDGE (1870-1951). HIS FATHER WAS AN “EXEMPLARY” SOLDIER, WITH 21 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERYHE HAD FOUGHT IN THE BOER WAR CAMPAIGN AND MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES BY LORD ROBERTS. HE RE-ENLISTED AND SERVED IN THE WAR AS A SERGEANT MAJOR. A FORMER BAKER. HE LIVED AT 63 COLONIAL STREET, SPRING BANK, HULL.
RICHARD ALSO ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. SERVED AS CORPORAL, 25535, ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY AND WAS PROMOTED TO SECOND LIEUTENANT, IN THE 77TH SIEGE BATTERY. HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED IN A FIRE AT HEADQUARTERS, ON 13/12/1917, AGED 24. HE WAS OVERCOME BY SMOKE AND BURNT TO DEATH. HIS BOY WAS IDENTIFIED AND HE WAS BURIED ON 24/12/1917.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 12/01/1918.
HE HAD FOUR BROTHERS SERVING, THREE IN FRANCE AND ONE IN SALONIKA, TWO WERE ENTITLED TO THE MONS MEDAL.
Notes:
- ‘Burstwick Shrine’, Hull Daily Mail, 5 December 1916
- Yorkshire Heroes, Vol I: A Journey from Hull to Withernsea, Around Hornsea and Back to Hull Again, Malcolm Mann, 1996. pp. 397-398
- ‘Burstwick Shrine Unveiled’, Hull Daily Mail, 8 December 1917
- Burstwick Primitive Methodist Shrine, dedicated December 1917. Attended by: Local Clergy/Dignitaries. Records 74 men serving in WW1.
- Burstwick WW1 Memorial, unveiled 10/07/1920. Attended by: Colonel R Hall; Local Clergy/Dignitaries; Ex-Servicemen. Records 17 died and 58 men returned.
