Richard John de Mansfield Absolon was from Weybridge, Surrey. He enlisted into The Parachute Regiment in 1980 when just 17 years old.

Private Absolon passed out of P Coy with 461 Platoon on 6 June 1980 and was posted to 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA).

Pte Absolon went on two tours of Northern Ireland (Operation Banner).

He went with 3 PARA on Operation Corporate to the Falkland Islands in 1982. 

Pte Absolon died during the Battle for Mount Longdon on 13 June 1982, aged 19 years old. He was repatriated soon afterwards and buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire. 

Private Richard Absolon was awarded a posthumous Military Medal for his actions during the conflict.

3 PARA award the Absolon MM Trophy annually in commemoration of Private Absolon MM.

Profile photo kindly supplied by Jimmy O'Connell