Post by atillathenunns on Feb 9, 2012 22:19:07 GMT 12
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William Wallace Allison Burn
14th August 1911 NZ Gazette
William Wallace Allison Burn is appointed Second Lieutenant, NZ Staff corps.
Arthur Henry Piper is appointed Second Lieutenant, NZ Staff corps.
21st February 1912
William Wallace Allison Burn
Second Lieutenant Burn, NZSC is appointed Assistant Area Officer, Timaru.
William Burn was born in Melbourne Australia, 17th July 1891, he was the youngest son of Mrs. Isabel Matilda Burn of 281Hereford Street, Christchurch.
Burn was an old boy of the Christchurch Boys High school, and was well known in Christchurch as a Rugby player and oarsman. He joined the New Zealand Army immediately on leaving school, receiving a commission and an appointment into the New Zealand Staff Corps.
13th April 1912
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formed by Royal Warrant on 13 April 1912 and assumed control of the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers on 13 May 1912.
8th August 1912
Piper and Burn depart Wellington aboard the Ionic for England.
Piper was to be attached to the Aviation School at Farnsborough where he was to do a course in aviation.
Burn was to be attached to a Mounted Infantry Regiment.
Two RNZA Officers from Wellington (Lieutenants H. A Davies & J. L. H. Turner) also travelled on the Ionic for training in England.
The duration of attachment to British units was to be fifteen months.
The Ionic arrived in Plymouth on September 17th 1912. The four New Zealand officers had arrived just as the British War Office was completing large scale Army training manoeuvres. As such their attachment to British units was delayed until late October.
On October 25th 1912, Arthur Henry Piper reported for duty to the Officer Commanding, 1st Battalion, “The Kings Regiment” in Aldershot.
Piper’s reports of his training with the Kings Regiment were submitted back to New Zealand on a monthly basis. These reports are held at Archives NZ and show that he was attached with the Kings Regiment up until June 1913. I have been unable to find any information in regards to Pipers final 6 months in England.
Contrary to what has been recorded in the history books, I speculate that it would be highly unlikely that Piper would have been attached to the Aviation School at Farnsborough for a course in aviation. (None of the five flying schools show him as being enrolled a pupil)
A possible reason for Pipers non-acceptance into the Aviation school could be due to the less than complementary reports that he received from the CO of the Kings Regiment, which were supported by the 6th Brigade CO and the 2nd Division Commanding officer. (Some of the key words used to describe Piper: - Unreliable, slack, average ability and not very strong)
At this point it is worth mentioning that 1912 was the beginning of the military aircraft arms race.
By the end of 1912 Germany would boast that it had built 16 aerodromes, 186 pilots certificates issued (Making a total of 330 certified pilots, of whom 72 were military officers).
14 German towns would each donate an aircraft to the Government. £45,000 was given in aviation prizes.
Italy would boast of three flying grounds and an experimental station for the study of flight, and 200 certificated Italian pilots.
France had over 1000 qualified aviators. (It was common belief of the time that French pilots were the best in the World).
Britain had 146 qualified aviators with 120 aeroplanes.
The trend of towns gifting planes to their Governments was worldwide. Interestingly there was a public call in February 1913 – “When would Wellington offer an aeroplane to the Government?”
6th May 1913
At Salisbury Plain Bristol School, Flight Instructor Pixton took Lieutenant Burn, a prospective pupil for a long flight.
6th June 1913
“The King held a largely attended levee at Buckingham Palace this week. Those present included the Earl of Onslow, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., and Mr. Pani Paora Chamberlain.
Those presented to the King included: —Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.S.0., on being created a Baron (the presentation was made by the Marquis of Crewe). Second Lieutenant W. W. Burn and Second Lieutenant A. H. Piper, both of the New Zealand Staff Corps, were presented by the Inspector- General of the Home forces.”
29th July 1913
“Latest information in regard to the aeroplane presented to New Zealand is to the effect that the machine is being subjected to further tests. No word has yet been received as to when the gift may be expected to arrive in the Dominion. When it does come it will probably have to be stored away for a time until the Dominion has a properly trained officer to undertake the formation and instruction of a flying corps.
At present a young New Zealander, Lieutenant Piper, of Oamaru, is at Home (England) receiving training in aeronautics, as well as other branches of the service. He is a young man who took a keen interest in this work before being sent home, and is now entering whole heartedly into the training. He will complete his course towards the end of 1914, and will then return to the Dominion. Upon what lines an air service department will be formed cannot as yet be stated. Questions of expense will naturally have to be considered. Sergeant Major Woodward, an instructor at present in New Zealand, has also taken interest in aeronautics as they affect military operations.”
9th December 1913
Second Lieutenant Burn NZSC is admitted to the Hall Flying School and undertakes a course in aviation.
24th February 1914
Second Lieutenant W. W, A. Burn NZSC, qualifies for his Aviators Certificate (No. 746) at the Central Flying School at Upavon, in a Maurice Farman Biplane.
22nd May 1914
Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn (Christchurch) has qualified as an Army pilot, and is now at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough.
14th March 1914
“Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, N.Z.S.C., after spending some time getting a preliminary experience of aviation at Hendon, has now gone to the central flying school at Salisbury Plain, in. order to qualify for an Army pilot's certificate. Lieutenant’s Turner and Davis are going through their gunnery course at Shoeburyness, and they will attend the practice camps at Salisbury Plain before leaving for the Dominion, probably in the autumn.”
12th June 1914
“Asked by a Post reporter today when the Defence Department proposed to place the aeroplane Britannia in commission, instead of keeping it locked up in a shed at the Defence Stores in Wellington. General Godley, Officer Commanding the Forces, replied that two officers were at present being trained at Home, and when one of them, Lieut. Burn, returned to New Zealand towards the end of the year, it was probable that he would take the machine out and use it. He had nothing to say at present regarding the establishment of an aviation school in New Zealand.”
16th June 1914
“Lieutenant W. W, A. Burn (Christchurch), of tho New Zealand Staff Corps, who has been in England for some time past for military training, qualified for his airman's certificate at Upavon on 24th February, He has now obtained his military ticket of the Royal Flying Corps for cross country flights. At the end of this month he is going to the aeroplane erection factory, and in June to the concentration camp of the Army aeroplanes. Immediately after the manoeuvres Lieutenant Burn will leave for New Zealand.”
8th September 1914
Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, who has been in England for the past two years training, and has devoted himself lately to aviation, arrived in Wellington today by the RMS Corinthic.
December 1914
Lieutenant Burn is appointed Area Officer and Adjutant to the 3rd Hauraki Regiment.
27th February 1915
RFC Military Wing, London Gazette, Appointments.
W. W. A. Burns appointed Flight Lieutenant, dated February 27, 1915.
1st April 1915
Lieutenant Burn embarks for India having been seconded to the Indian Army for service as a Flying Officer attached to the Indian Expeditionary Force. Burn’s time with the Indian Flying Corps was to be short as it came under the control of the Royal Flying Corps to which he was transferred on May 1st, 1915.
1st May 1915
RFC Military Wing, London Gazette, Appointments.
Flying Officer, Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, dated may 1st, 1915.
Burn joined a RFC unit in Basra on May 25th, 1915 as one of five pilots. The unit took over three aircraft that had already seen service in Egypt and were considered to be in poor condition.
The units operations commenced on May 31st, 1915 with a reconnaissance flight over the Turkish positions near Kurna.
Two more aircraft, Caudrons arrived on the July 4th 1915, in which Burn flew a number of sorties as an observer.
The Caudrons proved to be unreliable and prone to frequent engine failure in the hot desert conditions.
30th July 1915
Lieutenant William Burn was acting as an observer, with Australian Lieutenant George Pinnock Merz piloting their Caudron aeroplane, when they were forced to land with engine failure. They landed near a camp of hostile Arabs who attacked, and after a running battle killed Burn and Merz.
Lieutenant Burn reported missing.
“The Caudron aeroplanes Ca. 3 and Ca. 4, piloted by Major Reilly and Lieutenant Merz, and with Captain Atkins and Captain Palmes as passenger, had left Basrah early on 19th July. Not having been at Nasiriyah, I am unable to give any details of the operations, but the town was entered on 25th July, the aeroplanes, I understand, having proved exceedingly useful. On 25th July, I again went out to Aba-Salabig to establish a refilling depot for the return journey to Basrah, and it was during this journey that Lieutenant Merz and Lieutenant Burn were killed.
On, 30th July, the return journey was commenced, Major Reilly piloting No. 3 machine, with Captain Palmes as passenger, and Lieutenant Merz piloting No. 4 machine, with Lieutenant Burn as passenger. Major Reilly landed at Aba- Salabig at 11 a.m. He stated that his engine had failed about twenty miles from Nasiriyah, and that he had landed near the Arab town of Khamsieh. No. 4 was flying close to them at the time, but did not land, and was soon out of sight. The Arabs of Khamsieh were friendly, and assisted Major Reilly, and after a delay of a few hours he rectified the trouble, which proved to be weakened inlet valve springs, and flew on to Aba- Salabig.
When Major Reilly arrived at Aba- Salabig a fog of dust was rising over the desert, and he, therefore, decided to stay there overnight, as these dust storms have always cleared off by the morning, even if the wind that caused, them blows all night. We did not feel very anxious at the non-appearance of the other aeroplane, because we thought that they had gone straight on to Basrah, particularly as Lieut. Merz had missed the island on the way out, and we knew that he had ample petrol for the journey. The next morning Major Reilly flew on to Basrah, and I remained on the island.
On the evening of 1st August at about 8 p.m., we sighted a ‘Verys Light’ fired from the water to the east of Aba-Salabig. I fired a light in reply to this, and proceeded with two launches, which I had with me towards the direction from which it had appeared. It was, however, dark. Our propellers got continually fouled with weeds, and in the end we ran aground. I therefore anchored for the night, and lit an acetylene flare, which lasted for several hours. At dawn next morning we got our launches off the mud, and continued towards the east. After proceeding a mile or two we met a ' bellum' (a sort of heavy Arab canoe, about 25ft long, 3ft beam, and lft 6in deep). In the bellum were Lieut. Wells, R.F.C., Staff- Sergt Heath, an Arab pilot, and two Indian sailors.
Lieut Wells had been sent up in a steam launch with a pack wireless set and extra rations for my party. It was from him I first learned that No. 4 Caudron was missing. His launch had run aground soon after he got into inundations from the Shat-el-Arab, near Shafi. He had been unable to get into comunication with Basrah, on account of engine trouble with his wireless, and so he came on in the bellum. He and the others with him had poled the bellum all day, covering a distance of nearly 30 miles in the intense heat. I gave him one of my launches and sent him back to Shafi to bring on the wireless set, returning myself to Aba-Salabig. As I reached the shore. Major Reilly arrived from Basrah in a Maurice Farman biplane, and as soon as the engines had cooled down I proceeded with him in it towards the west to look for the missing aeroplane. After going about 20 miles we sighted it and landed.
There was absolutely no trace of the officers, the only objects left were a Gnome spanner and one high tension lead and two burnt out smoke bombs. The aeroplane had made a good landing, but the plane had been slit up with knives, and the tail and nacelle broken. We then flew on another five miles towards the west before starting back to Aba- Salabig, flying low and looking for any signs of the aviators, but could see nothing.
At Aba-Salabig we interviewed the Sheikh, and had search parties sent out to make enquires on the mainland, but these marsh Arabs are afraid of the Bedouins of the desert, and we were not hopeful of accomplishing anything. The next day I got into communication with Basrah and was recalled.
The matter was then put into the hands of the political officers, and they ascertained that the murder had been committed by a band of Bedouins, who were travelling to Gurmat Ali, and the Shat-el-Arab, about six miles north-west of Basrah. Three of these Arabs had been wounded by the officers and one killed. The bodies of the two officers have not yet been found. A force comprised of one company 66th Punjabs, one machine gun section, with two mountain guns, accompanied by Captain T. W. White, Australian Flying Corps, proceeded to Gurmat Ali, on the night of 24th August, and an advance was made on the village at dawn on the 25th.”
Burn’s brother Trooper Robert Bruce Burn of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles was killed at Gallipoli during the night advance on 6/7 August 1915, seven days after his brother’s death.
Burns received two Mention in Despatches citations, -
(1) For distinguished service – Operations Amara, 31st May to 4th June 1915.
(2) For distinguished service – Euphrates Operations, 26th June to 25th July 1915.
Burns body was never recovered, he is commemorated on the Addenda Panel at the Basra Memorial. He was twenty-four years old.
William Wallace Allison Burn
14th August 1911 NZ Gazette
William Wallace Allison Burn is appointed Second Lieutenant, NZ Staff corps.
Arthur Henry Piper is appointed Second Lieutenant, NZ Staff corps.
21st February 1912
William Wallace Allison Burn
Second Lieutenant Burn, NZSC is appointed Assistant Area Officer, Timaru.
William Burn was born in Melbourne Australia, 17th July 1891, he was the youngest son of Mrs. Isabel Matilda Burn of 281Hereford Street, Christchurch.
Burn was an old boy of the Christchurch Boys High school, and was well known in Christchurch as a Rugby player and oarsman. He joined the New Zealand Army immediately on leaving school, receiving a commission and an appointment into the New Zealand Staff Corps.
13th April 1912
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formed by Royal Warrant on 13 April 1912 and assumed control of the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers on 13 May 1912.
8th August 1912
Piper and Burn depart Wellington aboard the Ionic for England.
Piper was to be attached to the Aviation School at Farnsborough where he was to do a course in aviation.
Burn was to be attached to a Mounted Infantry Regiment.
Two RNZA Officers from Wellington (Lieutenants H. A Davies & J. L. H. Turner) also travelled on the Ionic for training in England.
The duration of attachment to British units was to be fifteen months.
The Ionic arrived in Plymouth on September 17th 1912. The four New Zealand officers had arrived just as the British War Office was completing large scale Army training manoeuvres. As such their attachment to British units was delayed until late October.
On October 25th 1912, Arthur Henry Piper reported for duty to the Officer Commanding, 1st Battalion, “The Kings Regiment” in Aldershot.
Piper’s reports of his training with the Kings Regiment were submitted back to New Zealand on a monthly basis. These reports are held at Archives NZ and show that he was attached with the Kings Regiment up until June 1913. I have been unable to find any information in regards to Pipers final 6 months in England.
Contrary to what has been recorded in the history books, I speculate that it would be highly unlikely that Piper would have been attached to the Aviation School at Farnsborough for a course in aviation. (None of the five flying schools show him as being enrolled a pupil)
A possible reason for Pipers non-acceptance into the Aviation school could be due to the less than complementary reports that he received from the CO of the Kings Regiment, which were supported by the 6th Brigade CO and the 2nd Division Commanding officer. (Some of the key words used to describe Piper: - Unreliable, slack, average ability and not very strong)
At this point it is worth mentioning that 1912 was the beginning of the military aircraft arms race.
By the end of 1912 Germany would boast that it had built 16 aerodromes, 186 pilots certificates issued (Making a total of 330 certified pilots, of whom 72 were military officers).
14 German towns would each donate an aircraft to the Government. £45,000 was given in aviation prizes.
Italy would boast of three flying grounds and an experimental station for the study of flight, and 200 certificated Italian pilots.
France had over 1000 qualified aviators. (It was common belief of the time that French pilots were the best in the World).
Britain had 146 qualified aviators with 120 aeroplanes.
The trend of towns gifting planes to their Governments was worldwide. Interestingly there was a public call in February 1913 – “When would Wellington offer an aeroplane to the Government?”
6th May 1913
At Salisbury Plain Bristol School, Flight Instructor Pixton took Lieutenant Burn, a prospective pupil for a long flight.
6th June 1913
“The King held a largely attended levee at Buckingham Palace this week. Those present included the Earl of Onslow, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., and Mr. Pani Paora Chamberlain.
Those presented to the King included: —Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.S.0., on being created a Baron (the presentation was made by the Marquis of Crewe). Second Lieutenant W. W. Burn and Second Lieutenant A. H. Piper, both of the New Zealand Staff Corps, were presented by the Inspector- General of the Home forces.”
29th July 1913
“Latest information in regard to the aeroplane presented to New Zealand is to the effect that the machine is being subjected to further tests. No word has yet been received as to when the gift may be expected to arrive in the Dominion. When it does come it will probably have to be stored away for a time until the Dominion has a properly trained officer to undertake the formation and instruction of a flying corps.
At present a young New Zealander, Lieutenant Piper, of Oamaru, is at Home (England) receiving training in aeronautics, as well as other branches of the service. He is a young man who took a keen interest in this work before being sent home, and is now entering whole heartedly into the training. He will complete his course towards the end of 1914, and will then return to the Dominion. Upon what lines an air service department will be formed cannot as yet be stated. Questions of expense will naturally have to be considered. Sergeant Major Woodward, an instructor at present in New Zealand, has also taken interest in aeronautics as they affect military operations.”
9th December 1913
Second Lieutenant Burn NZSC is admitted to the Hall Flying School and undertakes a course in aviation.
24th February 1914
Second Lieutenant W. W, A. Burn NZSC, qualifies for his Aviators Certificate (No. 746) at the Central Flying School at Upavon, in a Maurice Farman Biplane.
22nd May 1914
Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn (Christchurch) has qualified as an Army pilot, and is now at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough.
14th March 1914
“Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, N.Z.S.C., after spending some time getting a preliminary experience of aviation at Hendon, has now gone to the central flying school at Salisbury Plain, in. order to qualify for an Army pilot's certificate. Lieutenant’s Turner and Davis are going through their gunnery course at Shoeburyness, and they will attend the practice camps at Salisbury Plain before leaving for the Dominion, probably in the autumn.”
12th June 1914
“Asked by a Post reporter today when the Defence Department proposed to place the aeroplane Britannia in commission, instead of keeping it locked up in a shed at the Defence Stores in Wellington. General Godley, Officer Commanding the Forces, replied that two officers were at present being trained at Home, and when one of them, Lieut. Burn, returned to New Zealand towards the end of the year, it was probable that he would take the machine out and use it. He had nothing to say at present regarding the establishment of an aviation school in New Zealand.”
16th June 1914
“Lieutenant W. W, A. Burn (Christchurch), of tho New Zealand Staff Corps, who has been in England for some time past for military training, qualified for his airman's certificate at Upavon on 24th February, He has now obtained his military ticket of the Royal Flying Corps for cross country flights. At the end of this month he is going to the aeroplane erection factory, and in June to the concentration camp of the Army aeroplanes. Immediately after the manoeuvres Lieutenant Burn will leave for New Zealand.”
8th September 1914
Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, who has been in England for the past two years training, and has devoted himself lately to aviation, arrived in Wellington today by the RMS Corinthic.
December 1914
Lieutenant Burn is appointed Area Officer and Adjutant to the 3rd Hauraki Regiment.
27th February 1915
RFC Military Wing, London Gazette, Appointments.
W. W. A. Burns appointed Flight Lieutenant, dated February 27, 1915.
1st April 1915
Lieutenant Burn embarks for India having been seconded to the Indian Army for service as a Flying Officer attached to the Indian Expeditionary Force. Burn’s time with the Indian Flying Corps was to be short as it came under the control of the Royal Flying Corps to which he was transferred on May 1st, 1915.
1st May 1915
RFC Military Wing, London Gazette, Appointments.
Flying Officer, Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, dated may 1st, 1915.
Burn joined a RFC unit in Basra on May 25th, 1915 as one of five pilots. The unit took over three aircraft that had already seen service in Egypt and were considered to be in poor condition.
The units operations commenced on May 31st, 1915 with a reconnaissance flight over the Turkish positions near Kurna.
Two more aircraft, Caudrons arrived on the July 4th 1915, in which Burn flew a number of sorties as an observer.
The Caudrons proved to be unreliable and prone to frequent engine failure in the hot desert conditions.
30th July 1915
Lieutenant William Burn was acting as an observer, with Australian Lieutenant George Pinnock Merz piloting their Caudron aeroplane, when they were forced to land with engine failure. They landed near a camp of hostile Arabs who attacked, and after a running battle killed Burn and Merz.
Lieutenant Burn reported missing.
“The Caudron aeroplanes Ca. 3 and Ca. 4, piloted by Major Reilly and Lieutenant Merz, and with Captain Atkins and Captain Palmes as passenger, had left Basrah early on 19th July. Not having been at Nasiriyah, I am unable to give any details of the operations, but the town was entered on 25th July, the aeroplanes, I understand, having proved exceedingly useful. On 25th July, I again went out to Aba-Salabig to establish a refilling depot for the return journey to Basrah, and it was during this journey that Lieutenant Merz and Lieutenant Burn were killed.
On, 30th July, the return journey was commenced, Major Reilly piloting No. 3 machine, with Captain Palmes as passenger, and Lieutenant Merz piloting No. 4 machine, with Lieutenant Burn as passenger. Major Reilly landed at Aba- Salabig at 11 a.m. He stated that his engine had failed about twenty miles from Nasiriyah, and that he had landed near the Arab town of Khamsieh. No. 4 was flying close to them at the time, but did not land, and was soon out of sight. The Arabs of Khamsieh were friendly, and assisted Major Reilly, and after a delay of a few hours he rectified the trouble, which proved to be weakened inlet valve springs, and flew on to Aba- Salabig.
When Major Reilly arrived at Aba- Salabig a fog of dust was rising over the desert, and he, therefore, decided to stay there overnight, as these dust storms have always cleared off by the morning, even if the wind that caused, them blows all night. We did not feel very anxious at the non-appearance of the other aeroplane, because we thought that they had gone straight on to Basrah, particularly as Lieut. Merz had missed the island on the way out, and we knew that he had ample petrol for the journey. The next morning Major Reilly flew on to Basrah, and I remained on the island.
On the evening of 1st August at about 8 p.m., we sighted a ‘Verys Light’ fired from the water to the east of Aba-Salabig. I fired a light in reply to this, and proceeded with two launches, which I had with me towards the direction from which it had appeared. It was, however, dark. Our propellers got continually fouled with weeds, and in the end we ran aground. I therefore anchored for the night, and lit an acetylene flare, which lasted for several hours. At dawn next morning we got our launches off the mud, and continued towards the east. After proceeding a mile or two we met a ' bellum' (a sort of heavy Arab canoe, about 25ft long, 3ft beam, and lft 6in deep). In the bellum were Lieut. Wells, R.F.C., Staff- Sergt Heath, an Arab pilot, and two Indian sailors.
Lieut Wells had been sent up in a steam launch with a pack wireless set and extra rations for my party. It was from him I first learned that No. 4 Caudron was missing. His launch had run aground soon after he got into inundations from the Shat-el-Arab, near Shafi. He had been unable to get into comunication with Basrah, on account of engine trouble with his wireless, and so he came on in the bellum. He and the others with him had poled the bellum all day, covering a distance of nearly 30 miles in the intense heat. I gave him one of my launches and sent him back to Shafi to bring on the wireless set, returning myself to Aba-Salabig. As I reached the shore. Major Reilly arrived from Basrah in a Maurice Farman biplane, and as soon as the engines had cooled down I proceeded with him in it towards the west to look for the missing aeroplane. After going about 20 miles we sighted it and landed.
There was absolutely no trace of the officers, the only objects left were a Gnome spanner and one high tension lead and two burnt out smoke bombs. The aeroplane had made a good landing, but the plane had been slit up with knives, and the tail and nacelle broken. We then flew on another five miles towards the west before starting back to Aba- Salabig, flying low and looking for any signs of the aviators, but could see nothing.
At Aba-Salabig we interviewed the Sheikh, and had search parties sent out to make enquires on the mainland, but these marsh Arabs are afraid of the Bedouins of the desert, and we were not hopeful of accomplishing anything. The next day I got into communication with Basrah and was recalled.
The matter was then put into the hands of the political officers, and they ascertained that the murder had been committed by a band of Bedouins, who were travelling to Gurmat Ali, and the Shat-el-Arab, about six miles north-west of Basrah. Three of these Arabs had been wounded by the officers and one killed. The bodies of the two officers have not yet been found. A force comprised of one company 66th Punjabs, one machine gun section, with two mountain guns, accompanied by Captain T. W. White, Australian Flying Corps, proceeded to Gurmat Ali, on the night of 24th August, and an advance was made on the village at dawn on the 25th.”
Burn’s brother Trooper Robert Bruce Burn of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles was killed at Gallipoli during the night advance on 6/7 August 1915, seven days after his brother’s death.
Burns received two Mention in Despatches citations, -
(1) For distinguished service – Operations Amara, 31st May to 4th June 1915.
(2) For distinguished service – Euphrates Operations, 26th June to 25th July 1915.
Burns body was never recovered, he is commemorated on the Addenda Panel at the Basra Memorial. He was twenty-four years old.