BURNS, James Drummond
| Service Number: | 805 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 February 1915, Enlisted at Lilydale, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Geelong, Victoria, Australia, August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Mentone High School, Victoria; Bearham's College, Bairnsdale, Victoria; Tooronga Road State School, Victoria; Scotch college, Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 18 September 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Plot 11, Row D, Grave 37 Headstone inscription reads: Que ante Diem periit sed miles sed pro Patria 'until the day break' |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lilydale Presbyterian Church Great War Honour Roll, Lilydale War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 805, 21st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Lilydale, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Corporal, 805, 24th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Corporal, 805, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 18 Sep 1915: | Involvement Corporal, 805, 21st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 805 awm_unit: 21st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1915-09-18 |
Help us honour James Drummond Burns's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Hugh MacLeod Burns and Mary Edith Lyall Burns of Inkerman Road, Malvern, Victoria
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gallipoli Association
Corporal James Drummond Burns, 21st Battalion.
The son of Rev. Hugh MacLeod and Mary Edith Lyall Burns born at Geelong, Vic.
He was a former student of Scotch College and was about to enter Melbourne University, when he enlisted on 2nd February 1915.
James had been Editor of ‘The Collegian’ (College Magazine) 1913-4; and is the author of a known poem ‘For England’ (see below).
Cpl Burns was a survivor from the ill-fated Southland which was torpedoed at 9.51 am on 2 September.
He was killed in action just over 2 weeks later at Gallipoli on 18 September 1915, aged 19. He is buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery.
James is also listed on the Lilydale War Memorial.
‘FOR ENGLAND’
The bugles of England were blowing o’er the sea,
As they had called a 1000 years, calling now to me;
They wake me from dreaming in the dawning of the day,
The bugles of England – and how could I stay?
The banners of England, unfurled across the sea,
Floating out upon the wind, were beckoning to me;
Storm-rent and battle-torn, smoke-stained and grey,
The banners of England, and how could I stay?
O England, I heard the cry of those that died for thee,
Sounding like an organ voice across the winter sea;
They lived & died for England, & gladly went their way
England, O England, how could I stay.
J.D. Burns, May 1915.
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