Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Burns, a postman, born on the 11th June 1867 in Brixton, Surrey and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Burns (nee Norris, married on the 25th June 1889 in St. Luke’s Church, West Norwood, Surrey), a domestic housekeeper, born on the 16th March 1867 in Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire. William Alfred was born on the 3rd June 1890 in Streatham, Surrey and was baptised on the 29th June 1890 in the Parish Church, Greetham, Rutland, in April 1891 William was residing with his parents as boarders at Hillbrow, St. Julian’s Farm Road, Lambeth, Surrey. In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at The George and Dragon Inn, Seaton, Rutland, together with his father, an inn keeper, his mother and siblings, Albert Edward, born on the 4th January 1893, Anna Boyce, born on the 2nd June 1894 and Ethel May, born in the 2nd quarter of 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Streatham, Surrey and Evelyn Cecilia, born on the 15th November 1899 in Seaton. In April 1911 William was absent from the family home at West End, Uppingham, Rutland, residing there was his father, an inn keeper, his mother and siblings, Anna, an assistant dressmaker, Ethel, a schoolgirl, Evelyn, a schoolgirl and Edith Florence, a schoolgirl, born on the 22nd September 1901 in Seaton, Rutland, William was employed as a Midland Railway Company clerk and was residing as a boarder at 1, Coke Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire. On the 13th October 1913 William married Florry Buckland in St. Mark’s Church, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Florry was born on the 7th February 1890 in Mansfield. William’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence to commence on the 27th January 1919. In the 2nd quarter of 1919 Florry married Eli (Ernest) Conway in the Mansfield Nottinghamshire district, they were later divorced and Florry married Percy Farnath in the 3rd quarter of 1939 in the Nottingham district.
William enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 24th November 1915 in Peterborough, and was allotted the service number 766509. He gave his place of birth as Streatham, Surrey and age as 25 years 6 months. His marital status was given as married and his trade or calling as a Midland Railway Company clerk. He gave his present address as Elton, Peterborough.
His medical examination took place in Peterborough on the 24th November 1915 and recorded his apparent age as 25 years 6 months, that he was 5 feet 6½ inches in height, weighed 142 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 37½ inches, his physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar right brow and right jaw. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Florry Burns, Castle Hotel, Great Easton, Leicestershire. Elton, Peterborough. 38, Princess Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. General Service. Pte. 24/11/15.
To Army Reserve. Pte. 25/11/15.
Mobilized. 2/8/17.
Posted. 2/28th Bn. London Regt. Pte. 2/8/17
Transferred. To 1/28th Bn. London Regt. Pte. 16/11/17.
Embarked. Southampton. 16/11/17.
Disembarked. Le Havre. 17/11/17.
Joined Unit. In the Field. 29/11/17.
Admitted. To 148th Field Ambulance. P.U.O. In the Field. 9/4/18.
Admitted. To 56th Casualty Clearing Station. P.U.O. In the Field. 10/4/18.
Admitted. To 5th General Hospital, Rouen. 11/4/18.
Transferred. To 2nd Convalescent Depot. 16/4/18.
Transferred. To 11th Convalescent Depot. 18/4/18.
Transferred. To “B” Infantry Brigade Depot, Havre. 25/5/18.
Transferred. To Corps Reinforcement Camp. In the Field. 10/6/18.
Joined Unit. In the Field. 15/6/18
Killed in action. Pte. In the Field. 5/7/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 24/11/15 – 2/8/17. 1 year 250 days.
Home Service. 2/8/17 – 15/11/17. 106 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 16/11/17 – 5/7/18. 232 days.
Total Service. 2 years 224 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s surviving service record amounts to a total of thirteen pages, of which only ten pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 5 Jul-18 – Q3 & 4. In advanced forward line. Slight hostile Trench Mortar activity. Obtained Artillery retaliation.