Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Bursnell, a baker, born 1872 in Somercotes, Derbyshire and his wife Susan Bursnell (nee Towell, married in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1874 in Oakham, Rutland. George was born in the 4th quarter of 1893 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Edna Lilian, born 1897 and Clifford Albert, born 1898, both his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, in March 1901 the family home was at 5, Ann Street, Melton Mowbray. In the 2nd quarter of 1902, in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, George’s mother died, aged 28. In April 1911 George was employed as a general labourer and was residing in the family home at 1, Doctors Lane, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a pork pie maker, his step mother Lavinia Bursnell (nee Williams, married in the 2nd quarter of 1903 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1885 in Melton Mowbray and his siblings, Lily and Clifford, and his half blood sibling Sidney, born 1911 in Melton Mowbray.
George attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom & Abroad on the 15th October 1914 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his age as 20 years and 11 months and his trade or calling as labourer, his current employer being The Remount Depot, Melton Mowbray. He gave his present home address as 5, Park Avenue, Melton Mowbray. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Bursnell, this entry was later deleted and substituted with Mrs. J. Bursnell of Doctors Lane, Melton Mowbray, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35½ inches. His physical development was described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 16th October 1914 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2889 on the 15/10/14. Posted to the 2/5th Reserve Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 15/10/14. Embodied service commenced on the 15/10/14. Embarked from Southampton aboard SS Queen Alexandra on the 29/6/15. Disembarked Rouen, France on the 30/6/15. Killed in action in the field on the 2/9/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 15/10/14 – 28/6/15, 257 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/6/15 – 2/9/15, 66 days. Total service, 323 days. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by George’s Cousin 32234 Private H. Pateman on the 27th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by James Pacey, J.P., County of Leicester, The Limes, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood brothers of soldier, none. Full blood sisters of soldier, none. Uncles and Aunts by blood of soldier (not Uncles and Aunts by marriage). John Pateman, age 53 and Mary Pateman, age 53 both of 5, Park Avenue, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. George’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 2 Sept-15 - TRENCHES. Normal. Relief by 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT completed 12.30am. Battn proceeded to Brigade reserve. Originally informed to have two Coy’s and HQ’s at RAILWAY DUG OUTS and other two Coy’s at KRUISSTRAAT, owing to results of enemy shell fire at RAILWAY DUG OUTS this was abandoned and eventually it was decided by Brigade that HQ’s and 3 Coy’s should bivouac at KRUISSTRAAT and D Coy should occupy RAILWAY DUG OUTS. The weather completely broke up and conditions were most unpleasant. Casualties about 50 killed and wounded.
On Friday September 10th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MORE LOCAL TERRITORIALS KILLED. – News has been received this week that Pte. George Edward Bursnell, B Company, 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regt. (Territorials) was killed the previous Thursday. It appears that he was standing talking with a group of other Territorials when a shell burst, and a piece of shrapnel passed through his heart. He expired a few minutes later in a comrade’s arms. Another local Territorial, Pte. Jackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, Snow Hill, had a leg and ear blown off. Pte. Bursnell, who was only 21 years of age, was for twelve months a drummer in the Melton Boy Scouts. He formerly worked for the Holwell Iron Co., where he was greatly respected. After the outbreak of the war he went to the Army Remount Depot at Melton, but had only worked there two days before he was kicked in the face by a horse, and sustained concussion. On his recovery he enlisted in the Leicestershire Territorials, and went out with the last draft, which left Luton for the front, this being only the second time he had been in the trenches. Deceased was a son of Mr. Bursnell, 1, Doctor’s Lane, Melton, a pork pie maker, who is at present in the employ of Mr. Rainbow of Newcastle, who is making pies for soldiers under a Government contract. Pte. Bursnell’s brother, Clifford Albert Bursnell, has recently been engaged in a munitions factory in Newcastle. This week he has met with a serious accident, but at present no particulars have been obtained by his step mother. She, however, received a post card yesterday stating that he was going on as well as could be expected. News has also arrived of the death of another Holwell Works employee, viz., Sergt. Bert Smith, Asfordby, of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regt., he having died from wounds. Sergt. Smith was well known locally, and was at one time captain of the Holwell Works Football team.