TOPIC:

William Rose Burns

Trooper, 2nd Brabant’s Horse – Anglo Boer War
Sergeant, 4th South African Infantry WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Wittebergen & Belfast to 7050 Tpr. W.R. Burns, Brabant’s Horse
- British War Medal to Sjt. W.R. Burns, 4th S.A.I.
- Silver Wound Badge no. SA1111

William Burns was born on 27 June 1871 in Brechin, Angus, Scotland the son of David and Georgina Burns (born Crawford). Mr Burns was a well-known personage in Brechin being both a dealer in books and a publisher of a newspaper as well.



According to the 1881 Scotland census a 9 year old Burns was a school boy living at home with his parents and older siblings Christina (23), Anne (21), John (18) and Catherine (16) at 8 Latch Road in Brechin. Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 Scotland census the picture was very different with William, now a strapping lad of 19, living in the farmhouse of Nether Dysart in Maryton, a property belonging to Mary Kinnear. Having completed his schooling he was now employed as a Banker’s Clerk.

At some point after 1891 Burns decided on a course that would change his life forever – he undertook a journey to the very tip of the Dark Continent, Africa. Quite how he busied himself with is a matter for conjecture but the Anglo Boer War which broke out in October 1899 found him at Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape which is where he enrolled for service with the 2nd Regiment of Brabant’s Horse on 28 April 1900. Burns’ wartime career was to be a short lived one but he was present at the battles of Wittebergen and Belfast before being discharged at Frederickstad on 7 November 1900 on account of being Medically Unfit. His Record of Service described his character as “Very Good” and credited him with 194 days of service. His address after discharge was The Latch, Brechin. His Discharge Certificate, in the form of a hand written note, was signed by Lt Colonel Grenfell the O.C. For his efforts Burns was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with the Wittebergen and Belfast clasps.

Six months later, now aged 30, he had returned to the family fold and was reunited with his now aging parents (Father David was now 88 and his mother 73). The family had moved up the street and were now at 30 Latch Road in Brechin. Employed now as a Merchant’s Clerk he had given up on banking. Two of his sisters, Christina (42) and Catherine (36) were still unmarried and it can safely be assumed that they were, to quote an old euphemism, “on the shelf”.

For Burns, despite his service being cut short by ill health, a most singular honour awaited him, The Arbroath Herald of Thursday, July 11, 1901 in an article headed “HONOURING BRECHIN VOLUNTEERS – PRESENTATION OF FREEDOM OF CITY” reported the following,

“On Thursday night the city of Brechin publicly honoured seven young men who went through the war in South Africa in various branches of the volunteer service by presenting them with the freedom of the city and entertaining them at dinner.

The former ceremony took place in the City Hall the galleries of which were well filled. Provost Annandale presided and asked those present to join him in giving a very hearty welcome to their brave volunteer friends whom they had met to honour on their return from the seat of war, where they had been gallantly fighting for Queen and country. (Applause)

He had great pleasure, as Chief Magistrate of the Burgh, of presenting the freedom of the city and burgh of Brechin to their volunteer soldiers who had just returned from the seat of war. (Applause)

The Provost said that this was the highest mark of appreciation the citizens of Brechin could bestow. He asked..... and Trooper William Rose Burns of the 2nd Regiment of Brabant’s Horse in name of the Magistrates and Town Council and citizens of Brechin, to accept the freedom of the city.”

They say that an apple never falls far from the tree and Burns was no exception; he must have been quite taken with Africa because, by the time the Great War broke out in August 1914 he was a Journalist (following in his father’s footsteps) employed by A.W. Bayley & Co. in the Portuguese East Africa capital of Lourenco Marques and living at the English Club there.

Making his way to Potchefstroom in the Transvaal he completed the South African Expeditionary Force’s Attestation papers on 24 December 1915. Still unmarried he confirmed that he had served with Brabant’s Horse for 8 months in 1900 and with the Army Service Corps as a Civilian Clerk for 1 year during the Boer War. He was posted to the South African Scottish Regiment and assigned no. 8673 and the rank of Private. Now a ripe 44 years of age he was 5 feet 11 inches in height and had a fresh complexion, grey blue eyes and hair which was “dark turning grey”. Weighing in at 142 pounds he had a scar on the right side of his nose and two scars on his forehead. Having been pronounced Fit for the Army he was ready to do his bit for King and Country.

Burns embarked aboard the “Llanstephen Castle” bound for England and the front on 15 January 1916 and having arrived in England joined the ranks of “L” Company of the 4th S.A.I. Reserve Battalion. He was never destined to leave England, hampered by persistent ill health.

After a number of hospital admittances he was finally operated on, for an Inguinal Hernia in November 1917. The Medical Report on a Soldier Prior to Discharge invalid completed in respect of him at Bordon on 31 October 1918 confirmed that he had also been operated on prior to enlistment for the same complaint and that the problem had reoccurred in April 1916 whilst in England. He had been sent to the South African Hospital in Richmond and had an operation for a radical cure. Although now 48 years of age the operation had been successful and the Doctors’ noted that he was “well preserved but not vigorous”. He was reclassified medically to a B2. and invalided out of the Army. His postal address on discharge was to be Birch Lodge, Copse Hill, Wimbledon, London.

In his Statement of a Soldier Concerning His Own Case completed on 29 October 1918 Burns claimed to have a slight enlargement of the heart as a result of the hernia and that it had been caused through training in 1916. Now a Sergeant, he had been promoted in April 1917, he was ready to head for home. Burns was eventually discharged at Perham Downs on 19 May 1919 and, credited with service of 3 years and 147 days headed for his intended abode.

On account of the fact that he never entered a theatre of combat in WWI Burns was awarded the British War Medal only which was despatched to him on 4 June 1924.

But whilst he was waiting for his medal he conducted himself to the Far East where, according to the “Historic Trial of Ali Brothers & Others” he was a key state witness. What was this all about? I quote from the pamphlet published in this regard as follows:

“In the Sessions Court, Karachi, Monday, 21st October 1921

The Historic Trial of Manlana Mahomed Ali, Manlana Shankat Ali and others commenced at the Khalikdina Hall before Mr Justice Kennedy, Judicial Commissioner of Sind. The charges brought against the accused were that at some time or times between the months of February 1920 and September 1921, both inclusive, at Karachi and other places in British India were parties to a criminal conspiracy to seduce Mahomedan Officers and Soldiers in the army of His Majesty the King-Emperor from their duty.”

It seems Burns had been caught up in a conspiracy to topple the Government by violent means. The report read further (page 24) under the title ‘William Rose’s Evidence’:

“The eighth witness was William Rose Burns, aged about 50, Presbyterian, Journalist, Karachi, who deposed as follows:-

I am Assistant Editor the “Daily Gazette.” I received a report of the proceedings on the evening of 9th July from Teckchand (a Headmaster of the New High School, Karachi). That was Exhibit 37. I produced the report in the Lower Court. One page is missing. I published it correctly in my newspaper vide issue of 11th July Exhibit 39.”

The outcome of the trial was not reported but the above does serve to confirm to us that Burns, for a time, was plying his trade as a Newspaper Man in the East.

No further details about him are known until the following entry appeared in the Deaths column of The Courier and Advertiser (Scotland) on Wednesday, April 14, 1948:

“Burns – At the Infirmary Brechin, on April 13, 1948, William Rose Burns youngest son of the late David Burns, of 30 Latch Road, Brechin. This is the only intimation and invitation”

So there it was, William Rose Burns, aged 77, had breathed his last.

Rory

Thanks for the latest biography.Another young man brought back to life for a moment.

Patrick

Thank you Patrick - thanks to a member on another forum I have acquired a photo of Burns which I have added to the post.

Regards

Rory