Private Richard Edward Corner from Exton was one of four Rutland soldiers killed together while moving up to the front for a major raid on German positions in August 1917. He was the son of John Corner of Barnsdale Cottages, Exton and joined the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in July 1915, going out to France in 1916. He died on 15 August 1917 in an incident described by Captain JD Hills in his book The Fifth Leicestershire: "On the 14th August, after a very happy fortnight at Fouquieres, we moved to the huts at Noyelles, where the special stores for the coming raid were issued. At the same time all the pay books, badges, identity discs and personal kits were handed in, and to each man was issued a small round cardboard disc with a number on it. The following morning we paraded at 10am, and marched through Vermelles to Lone Trench and Tenth Avenue, where we were to wait until it was time to assemble. On the way, "B" Company had a serious disaster. A shell, intended for one of our batteries West of Vermelles, fell on the Company as they were passing the Mansion House Dump. They were marching in fours and had practically a whole platoon wiped out, for eleven were killed and fourteeen wounded." All the dead were buried in the same row in Philosophe British Cemetery. Richard lies in grave I.U.38, next to Thomas Woodcock of Oakham and close to Fred Chambers of Caldecott and Clarence Ellicott from Oakham. A Lieutenant paid tribute to Richard, who was 20 years old, writing: "We always found him to be a good and willing soldier and he died a soldier's death. He was well liked by all his comrades." Richard is remembered on Exton's war memorial.