Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Bursnall a labourer, born 1856 in Wymondham, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Jane Bursnall (nee Flint, married in the 4th quarter of 1878 in the Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire district), born 1853 in Tansley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Isaac was born on the 8th November 1889 in Wymondham and was baptised on the 9th February 1890 in the parish church, Wymondham, his siblings were, Mary Ann, a schoolgirl, born in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in Derbyshire, Thomas, a schoolboy, born 2nd May1881, Samuel, a schoolboy, born 16th April 1883 and Hannah, a schoolgirl, born in the 2nd quarter of 1886, the latter three siblings were all born in Wymondham, in April 1891 the family home was at King Street, Barkby Thorpe, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Isaac was residing in the family home at Main Street, Queniborough, Leicestershire, together with his father, an agricultural labourer, and his siblings, Thomas, an agricultural labourer, Hannah and Joseph, born 2nd June 1892 in Queniborough. In April 1911 Isaac was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Barkby Road, Syston, Leicestershire, together with his father, a shepherd, his mother and brother Joseph, a farm labourer. In the 3rd quarter of 1914, Isaac married Elsie Barker in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district. In the 4th quarter of 1915 in the Barrow upon Soar district, Isaac and Elsie’s son, James was born. Isaac was recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Bursnall, however he has variously had his surname spelt as Burchnall and Bursnell. The church memorial shows the spelling of his surname as Bursnell. Isaac was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 16 May-17 – RIGHT B17 HILL 60 SECTOR. Quiet night with the exception of hostile Machine Gun activity. At ‘Stand To’ a bombardment on our left commenced. Shelled about 30 minutes. Our lines received a little attention during the bombardment. One N.C.O., Lance Corporal BURSNALL of “A” Company was killed by shrapnel, and one man Private FRASER “D” Company wounded. Captain B. ASTER reported his return and was taken on the strength. – He took over Command of “A” Company from Captain L. ALLAN.
Casualties 1 Other Rank killed, and 1 Other Rank wounded.
On Friday September 27th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “QUENIBOROUGH.” – MEMORIAL SERVICE. – A memorial service was held in the Parish Church on Thursday evening for Captain C. H. Woodhouse and 15 others from the parish who have fallen in the war, viz. Lieut. Brooks, Lieut. T. Fox, Edward Lowe, Alfred Lowe, William Glover, Sydney Crawford, Max Crawford, Percy Ogden, Charles Stiff, Harold Mansfield, Richard Mansfield, Isaac Bursnell, William Cook.