Richard John Andrews

After a brief career as a poulterer he enlisted in the 128th Company (Westminster Dragoons) of the Imperial Yeomanry for service in the Second Boer War (1899–1902), during which he was appointed lance sergeant.

Andrews afterwards emigrated to Chile where he worked as a civil engineer for the Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway and claimed to have served as a captain in the Chilean Army.

Andrews received the Military Cross in August 1916 and later that year was selected as one of the first men to attend the Senior Officers' School.

Andrews was commended by his brigade commander, Frank Percy Crozier for leading his battalion to capture Welsh Ridge, near Cambrai, on 24 April.

Andrews was appointed to the Distinguished Service Order for actions two weeks later at La Vacquerie when he thwarted a German attack in the aftermath of a mine detonation.

Andrews returned to the frontline in the later stage of the war and led the 13th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment in the Hundred Days Offensive.

He served as chief liaison officer with a White column in North Russia but was captured in July after the Russians mutinied.

Andrews was senior British officer at the Butyrka prison in Moscow and became the last Briton to be released from captivity in April 1920.

He left the army in October 1920 and, rather than return to Chile, joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which was commanded by Crozier.

[11] Andrews afterwards led a counterattack to drive back a party of Germans and took possession of the rear lip of the mine crater as a new defensive position.

[15][5] Andrews received the French Croix de Guerre with palm leaves for his actions at Bourlon Wood.

[4] In June 1918 he was appointed to command the 18th battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment on home service but soon returned to the Western Front, still limping from his wound.

He announced to his battalion the low opinion he held of the educational training they were receiving and of the division's general who had ordered it.

[18] Andrews volunteered to serve with the British Army as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks.

However Andrews heard that Crozier had been appointed to command the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, cancelled his ticket and travelled to Ireland.

[23] Andrews was appointed a freeman of the City of London in recognition of his army service, and received a sword of honour and Sam Browne belt from his fellow freemen.

[3] Andrews established, with Crozier, the Ex-Officers' Automobile Service, possibly with money from their army demobilisation gratuities.

[23][25] The owner of a neighbouring engineering business had heard the motor start and then a loud thud; upon investigating he found Andrews lying next to the wheel with the chisel still clasped in his hand.

[23] A Home Office inspector found the wheel had been improperly mounted, the coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.