Richard Benjamin Culpin was born in Cambridge in 1898, seventh of the eight children of John & Elizabeth (nee Harrison) and their only son to live past his first birthday. He grew up in the city, enlisted in the Royal Sussex regiment and went to war. He died of his wounds in Cambridge on 16 December 1918.
The Cambridge Daily News of 23 December 1918 fills in the details:
"MILITARY FUNERAL: Pte. R. B. Culpin. The funeral of the late
Pte. Richard Benjamin Culpin, of the
12th Royal Sussex Regt., took place at the Mill-road Cemetery on Saturday last,
the curate of St. Philip's officiating.
The deceased was wounded at the battle of the Somme on November 14th,
1917, and had his leg amputated at the 53rd General Hospital, Wimeru. He was also wounded in the back and side by
shrapnel. He was removed from France to St. George's Hospital; from these to
the Atkinson Morley Convalescent Hospital, Wimbledon, and then home to the
residence of his father, Mr. John Culpin, 7, Malta-road. Complications arising
from the result of shrapnel wounds caused his removal to the 1st Eastern
General Hospital for operation, under which he died. The principal mourners were the father,
mother, and five sisters, Miss Priest, and Ptes. Bendall, Newberry, Woollard,
Thurman and Warner. The coffin was elm,
with brass furniture, the plate bearing the following inscription:
"Richard Benjamin Culpin, died December 16th, 1918, aged 20 years."
The coffin, draped with the Union Jack and covered with some beautiful floral
tributes, was conveyed to the cemetery on the military wagon, escorted by a
detachment of R.A.M.C. "The Last Post" was sounded at the close of
the commitment service. Mr. W. G. Mason
carried out the funeral arrangements."
We will remember them.
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