Former owner of Amokura — decorated soldier, yachtsman, and biscuit company director
Captain Richard Carr was a decorated British Army officer, passionate yachtsman, and director of the Carr’s biscuit company, founded by his great-grandfather Jonathan Dodgson Carr in 1831. He owned Amokura from the late 1960s until his death in 1977, sailing her extensively and maintaining her to a high standard.
Carr served with distinction during the Second World War as a Commando officer. Captured during operations in North Africa, he became a prisoner of war in both Italy and Germany. While in captivity, he struck up a friendship with fellow PoW and writer George Millar, who had previously owned Amokura from 1953 to 1960. Nearly a decade later, it was Millar who advised Carr to purchase the yacht.
Concerned about his health but determined to continue sailing, Carr undertook a significant refit in 1969. He replaced Amokura’s original 60-foot wooden mainmast with a shorter 52’6″ aluminium mast to make her easier to handle. This rig remained in place until her re-rigging with timber spars in 2016.
Carr was awarded both the Military Cross and MBE for his exceptional bravery and leadership, particularly for his repeated escape attempts from enemy camps—acts of “cold courage,” as they were later described. After the war, he returned to Carlisle and played a senior role in Carr’s of Carlisle, one of Britain’s most recognised food brands.
A member of the Royal Yacht Squadron and a lifelong sailor, Carr brought a spirit of adventure and quiet determination to both his wartime service and his life at sea. He died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve 1977 at the age of 58.
Captain Carr’s wartime exploits were featured in a Daily Telegraph article in June 2009, and photographs taken during his time with Amokura are shown here.
