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Fred BURNS

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Surname: BURNS

Forename(s): Fred

Place of Birth: Downham, Lancashire

Service No: 61942

Rank: Sapper

Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Engineers

Battalion / Unit: 11th Division Signal Coy

Division: 11th (Northern) Division

Age: 25

Date of Death: 1915-09-29

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: V. E. 2.

CWGC Cemetery: HILL 10 CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: CHATBURN, LANCASHIRE

Additional Information:

Fred Burns was the son of William and Alice Burns, née Hartley. William was born at Couton Beck, Cumberland and Alice at Downham, Lancashire.

1891 Downham, Lancashire Census: Brookside Cottage - Fred Burns, aged 8 months, born Downham, son of William and Alice Burns.

1901 Downham, Lancashire Census: The Village - Fred Burns, aged 11 years, born Downham, son of William and Alice Burns.

1911 Downham, Lancashire Census: Cosy Cottage - Fred Burns, aged 20 years, born Downham, son of William and Alice Burns.

The British Army Service Record for Fred Burns exists but may be incomplete.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Spr Fred Burns, 61942, R.E. Theatre of War first served in: (3) Egypt. Date of entry therein: 7.8.15. D. of W. 29.9.15.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Spr Fred Burns, 61942, Royal Engineers.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Sapper Frederick Burns, 61942, R.E. Date and Place of Death: 29.9.15. No.26 Cas. Clg. Stn. Dardanelles. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - William. £13 1s. 0d.

UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Fred. Name(s) on card(s): Dependant: Mrs Alice Burns. Relationship to soldier: Mother. Address: Cosy Cottage, Downham, Nr Clitheroe, Lancs.

Fred is commemorated on the Downham & Twiston War Memorial in St Leonard's Church, Downham.

Data Source: Craven Herald Article

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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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No photo available for this Soldier
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Engineers

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Engineers

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 11th (Northern) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 11th (Northern) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: BURNS

Forename(s): Fred

Born: Downham, Lancs

Residence:

Enlisted: Clitheroe, Lancs

Number: 61942

Rank: Spr

Regiment: Corps of Royal Engineers

Battalion:

Decorations:

Died Date: 29/09/15

Died How: Died of wounds

Theatre of War: Gallipoli

Notes: (11th Signal Coy., R.E.)

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: BURNS

Forename(s): Fred

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 61942

Rank: Sapper

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Unit: 11th Div. Signal Coy.

Age: 25

Awards:

Died Date: 29/09/1915

Additional Information: Son of William and Alice Burns, of Cosy Cottage, Downham, Clitheroe, Lancs. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS)

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‘Clitheroe Times’ (12 November 1915)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

SHOT BY A SNIPER

HOW SAPPER F. BURNS WAS KILLED

Mr. Arthur Burns, of Pendle-view, has received a communication from Sapper G. Haslam, stating how his brother, Sapper Fred Burns, a popular Downham young man, was killed in Gallipoli.

Sapper Haslam writes:- "It is my painful duty to write and inform you that your brother Fred was killed by a sniper yesterday, Wednesday, 29th September. I'm very very sorry to have to inform you of this sad news but it was his wish that I should write to you so that you can break the news gently at home. Fred, myself and Ted Flockton, were all three pals. We always worked together, and slept together, and I must say that Fred was a good soldier and the best of pals. He was sent out to repair a line at dinner-time with two others, only about five minutes work, but I am sorry to say a sniper got him before they had finished. I went down with him to the dressing station, and then to the clearing station, but they hadn't much hope for him, and let me stay with him until he passed away at five p.m. Then I carried him away to be buried. The minister was with him before the end, and did what he could for him, and they also did all they could in the hospital to make him comfortable. He was struck in the side as you will notice by the bullet hole through this envelope which I found in his pocket. All his personal belongings will be sent on in due course."

‘Clitheroe Times’ (19 May 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

DOWNHAM

FAMILY PATRIOTISM

The case of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Burns, of Cosy Cottage, Downham, is an interesting example of family patriotism, common to every nook and corner of the land. Their eldest son, Hartley, is in the A.S.C. and at present stationed in London. Before enlisting he was employed at Messrs. Sharples' music warehouse, Blackburn, and was organist at Wilpshire Wesleyan Chapel. Prior to taking up this he fulfilled the duties of organist at Downham Wesleyan Chapel. The second son, Arthur, was a driver in the Royal Engineers, but owing to an accident was discharged. His desire, however, to do his bit led him to a munition works where he is now employed. Sapper Fred, who joined along with Arthur, fell in battle at Suvla Bay last September, and now the youngest, Albert, not yet 19, has joined the R.F.A. and is in training at Winchester. Their only daughter, residing at home, has obtained her nursing certificate and is anxious to go out to do her duty. Her parents, however, considering the state of her health think this is inadvisable.

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St Leonard's Church, Downham, Lancashire

St Leonard's Church, Downham, Lancashire

Downham & Twiston War Memorial

St Leonard's Church, Downham, Lancashire

St Leonard's Church, Downham, Lancashire

Downham & Twiston Roll of Honour

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Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

28 July 1916

A DOWNHAM SOLDIER KILLED

Downham mourns the loss of her second soldier boy in the person of Driver Wm. Robinson, third son of the late Mr. Robert Robinson, of West Lane Farm. He was 29 years of age, and joined the R.F.A. on April 6th this year. On the 29th of April he was sent to France, and during the first week experienced his first battle. On three subsequent occasions he was in the front line and came out without a scratch. By trade, Robinson was a wheelwright, serving his time with Mr. Spencer, of Stopper Lane, and for several years he was employed with a Whalley firm. He was an enthusiastic cricketer, and assisted his village club for several of the latter years of its existence. Like the late Sapper Fred Burns, he was very popular among the villagers.

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West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

08 October 1915

A DOWNHAM SOLDIER DEAD

Official information was received on Wednesday morning that Pte. Fred Burns had died on September 29th from wounds received in the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was about 26 years of age and the third son of Mr. Wm. Burns of Downham. He joined the Royal Engineers at the beginning of January and went out about a couple of months ago. Prior to joining the forces he was employed as a tinsmith at Messrs. Theo. Wilson and Sons, Chatburn. Of a jovial disposition, he was a popular member of the local men's choir, and was known as a promising humorist. He was a member of the local Wesleyan choir, and is the first Downham lad to lay down his life for his country.

15 October 1915

DOWHHAM

MEMORIAL SERVICE - The official notification of the death of Private Fred Burns of Downham was received last weekend. He joined the Royal Engineers in the early part of January, and went out to the Gallipoli Peninsula about a couple of months ago, where he received wounds from which he died on September 29th. Twenty-five years of age, he was the third son of Mr. Wm. Burns, of Downham, and was a popular lad among the villagers and the large circle of friends he had made. He was a member of the Wesleyan Chapel and a Past Grand-master of the local Oddfellows. On Sunday memorial services were held at the Parish Church and Wesleyan Chapel. In the morning, at the former place, Rev. F.T. Bradshaw, the vicar, conducted the service, and in the course of his address referred to the late soldier. At the chapel, the service was attended by the Civilian Guard, under the command of Mr. George E. Robinson, and a number of the members of the Ancient Order of Oddfellows, Diamond Hill Lodge, M.U. Rev. C. Eades, of Chatburn, conducted the service and gave an address. Mr. J.A. Wade, a former villager, also said a few words. Special music was rendered by the choir.

28 July 1916

ANOTHER DOWNHAM SOLDIER KILLED

Downham mourns the loss of her second soldier boy in the person of Driver Wm. Robinson, third son of the late Mr. Robert Robinson, of West Lane Farm. He was 29 years of age, and joined the R.F.A. on April 6th this year. On the 29th of April he, along with his regiment, was sent to France, and during the first week experienced his first battle. On three subsequent occasions he was in the front line and came out without a scratch. By trade, Robinson was a wheelwright, serving his time with Mr. Spencer, of Stopper Lane, and for several years he was employed by a Whalley firm. He was an enthusiastic cricketer, and assisted his village club for several of the latter years of its existence. Like the late Sapper Fred Burns, he was very popular among the villagers.

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