Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Francis Burford an analyst and pharmaceutical chemist, born 1859 in Kettering, Northamptonshire and his wife Clara d'Este Burford (nee Emery, married in the 1st quarter of 1889 in the King’s Norton, Worcestershire district), born 1865 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Francis Emery Burford was born in the 2nd quarter of 1897 in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, a sister Marjorie, born 1899 in Kirby Muxloe, also residing with the family was his maternal aunt, Violet Lilian Emery, born 1860 in Market Harborough, in March 1901 the family home was at Kirby Fields, Kirby Muxloe. In April 1911 Francis was a scholar and was residing with his maternal aunt Violet Emery, at 71, Fawcett Road, Southsea, Hampshire. Francis was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 4 Jun-18 – FRONT LINE. CHATEAU SEGARD. Artillery consistently active on both sides during the day. Our support companies fairly heavily shelled. 2nd Lieutenant F. E. BURFORD killed. Shelling by enemy probably due to increased movement in the sector. At 3.30pm Battalion Operational Order number 26 issued relative to raid to be carried out by 3 officers and 30 other ranks of “D” Company at 1.15am on the 5th June with the object of obtaining identifications. Notification received from Brigade that the Battalion would be relieved by 16th Battalion KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS night 6th/7th June. Reconnoitring parties from the Battalion arrived at intervals throughout the day. Casualties, other ranks none recorded.
On Friday June 14th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROTHLEY.” – SEC.-LIEUT. F. E. BURFORD KILLED. – News has been received that Second-Lieutenant Francis Emery Burford, Leicester’s, son of Mr. S. F. Burford, Rothley, was killed in action on June 4th. Educated at the Wyggeston School and Eastbourne College, he gained an open scholarship at Cains College, Cambridge. He passed through Sandhurst, and received his commission in the Leicester’s in April, 1917. He was wounded last July.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour, Francis is recorded as having been a pupil at the school between the years 1906 and 1909.