Roy MCBURNEY

MCBURNEY, Roy

Service Number: 4663
Enlisted: 10 May 1915
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 2nd Field Artillery Brigade
Born: Willunga, South Australia, 24 May 1890
Home Town: Willunga, Onkaparinga, South Australia
Schooling: Willunga Public School, South Australia
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 22 October 1917, aged 27 years
Cemetery: The Huts Cemetery, ​Dickebusch, Belgium
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Willunga War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

10 May 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver
10 Aug 1915: Involvement Driver, 4663, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Persia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
10 Aug 1915: Embarked Driver, 4663, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , RMS Persia, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Virtual Australia

Enlisted and served under alias Roy Dunstan

Biography contributed by Peter Cates

Roy Mcburney's mother, Marion died when he was only three years old, and his father Joseph remarried a year later. They lived at Thornville between Willunga and Sellicks Hill. After leaving school Roy worked as a labourer. In 1912 he married Ella Violet Murial Adams and had a daughter Margaret Marion. The marriage failed and Roy Fled to Melbourne.

When he enlisted Roy gaVe his surname as Dunstan and claimed to be single. He was killed in Action on 22 October 1917 and buried at Huts Military Cemetery.

His wife later provided a statutory declaration establishing his correct identity and marital status, and was able to claim a war pension. Ella died in 1969 never having remarried. Margaret had five children.

Excerpt from the book "A Picture of Fortitude" with approval by The Willunga Recreational Park.

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