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Hi Mike,

As far as I know attestation papers for the IY can be found WO 128 (index in WO 129) at The National Archives. These are not available online so you need to go in person or get a researcher to go for you.

The index for WWI officer records is in WO 338 and records can be found in WO 339 or WO 374. I know that WO 338 can be searched online:
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/Di...FullDetails=True&j=1
and further info on officers records:
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/rese...ficers-1914-1918.htm

Cheers,

Mark

Hello Mike,

I thought this might be of interest.
It is the cigarette case that was presented to 20964 Trooper George Henry BURN, 16th (Worcestershire) Company, 5th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, on his return from the Anglo-Boer War.

Reverse engraved: "B.G.L. PRESENTED TO MR G.H. BURN Imperial Yeomanry ON HIS RETURN FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR BY A FEW FRIENDS AT ACOCKS GREEN 1902".

Birmingham hallmarks for 1899, and maker's mark "R.Bs" for Rolason Brothers.

I have had difficulty ascertaining the relevance of "B.G.L." However, I believe it probably refers to the Birmingham Guild Ltd. George Henry Burn ["Harry" Burn on the 1881 Census] was a brass founder and could well have been working at the Birmingham Guild in that capacity. The Guild specialised in:

"bronze and enamel work, bronze counter screens, cast work in bronze, iron & lead, church metalwork, door furniture, electric light fittings, entrance doors, fibrous plasterwork, furniture, grills, lift doors, memorial tablets, name plates, shop fronts, signs and letters, staircase balustrades, wrought iron entrance gates and fire grates, etc."

The Birmingham Guild was situated at 45 Great Charles Street, under a mile from Trooper Burn's father's brass tube works, at 111-114 Moland Street.

On his father's death in 1909, George H. Burns took over his father's business. He died in 1921, aged just 44.





WO128

Name: George Henry BURN
Number: 20964
Rank: Trooper
Born: Aston, Warwickshire
Age on 23/01/1901: 23 years, 3 months
Born: 21/11/1877

Calling: Brass Founder (believed to be working for the Birmingham Guild Ltd)

Address: Yorke House, Hall Green, Birmingham

Transferred from: Queen's Own Warwickshire Hussars
Corps: 16th (Worcestershire) Company, 5th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry

Attested, Birmingham, for 1 yr’s service: 23/01/1901
Discharged (Termination of Period of Engagement): 15/09/1902

Home: 23/01/1901 to 24/02/1901
South Africa: 25/02/1901 to 08/09/1902
Home: 09/09/1902 to 15/09/1902

Next of kin: George BURN (Father), Yorke House, Hall Green, Birmingham


Medal: QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902

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