Richard James David Carrick

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from John Hamblin, Researcher.

Richard James David Carrick, Captain 279105, Royal Army Medical Corps attached to the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. Killed in action on the 6th of August 1944 aged 26.

Richard James David Carrick was born at Wells, Somerset on the 9th of March 1918, the elder son of David Robertson Carrick, a chemistry teacher at Darlington Secondary School, and Catherine Amy Carrick (née Hill) of 25, Vane Terrace, Darlington, County Durham.

He was educated at Darlington Grammar School from May 1928 to July 1936 where he won School Colours in Rugby, Cricket and Football. He was appointed as a School Prefect in May 1934 and to Senior Prefect in 1935. He achieved his School Certificate (Hons) in July 1933 and his Higher Certificate in July 1936, with distinctions in Chemistry and Physics.

He matriculated for Downing College, Cambridge in October 1936 where he read Medicine. He played cricket for the College and played for the College 2nd XI Football team on occasion. He registered for military service on the 26th of February 1939. He was awarded a 2nd Class BA in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry in June 1939. In October 1939 he passed the Pharmacology paper before beginning his clinical training at Middlesex College Hospital, London. He was awarded a Kitchener Medical Scholarship in 1942.

He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 22nd of May 1943 and was attached to the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment on the 20th July 1944, having been serving with 179 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.

By the 4th of August 1944, the Battalion was positioned with their Division on the Périers Ridge where they faced the Germans on three sides. They had been ordered to hold their ground. On the 5th of August the Germans began shelling their positions which was followed by a strong tank and infantry assault. The attack forced the protecting tanks of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry to fall back, after which C and D Companies were attacked by enemy infantry and were also forced to fall back. The German infantry managed to penetrate the defensive perimeter with a few of them advancing as far as the Battalion Headquarters where they were held and then driven off.

Casualties during the fighting were such that the battalion had been reduced to half its fighting strength and with only twenty tanks remaining to assist in their defence. On the 6th of August 1944, the battalion was being relieved by the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, which was also at half its strength, when heavy enemy shelling began. With a further enemy attack being considered as imminent, it was decided that both battalions would remain in their positions under the command of the commanding officer of the 3rd Monmouths.

Just fifteen minutes later the German attack began with the left of the British position being overrun after hand to hand fighting. The enemy was driven back by a counter-attack but they then switched their attention to the right flank. They got to within two hundred yards of the Battalion Headquarters, where Headquarters personnel quickly manned the slit trenches and held their ground in very heavy fighting. Just before nightfall the German attack began to peter out and they withdrew, having failed to take the Monmouth’s position. The day's fighting had cost the composite battalion one hundred and sixty casualties from a total strength of five hundred and fifty men. Richard Carrick, who had been treating the wounded throughout the day, and was wounded himself, was among the dead.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington and on the memorial at Downing College, Cambridge.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Richard Carrick. If you are aware of one or you are related to Richard we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.