BURNS, Cecil Henry
| Service Number: | 2869 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 October 1916, Rutherford, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Singleton, New South Wales, Australia, 20 October 1892 |
| Home Town: | Singleton, Northumberland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Singleton Public School, New South Wales |
| Occupation: | Stock Dealer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Passchendaele, Belgium, 19 October 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Menin Road South Military Cemetery Grave III. J. 11, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2869, 46th Infantry Battalion, Rutherford, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2869, 46th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Napier embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2869, 46th Infantry Battalion, SS Port Napier, Sydney | |
| 19 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2869, 46th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres |
Help us honour Cecil Henry Burns's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Peter Rankin
Cecil fought and survived the 1917 battles of 2nd Battle of Bullecourt, Messines Ridge, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele. He was 25 years old when he was killed.
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
A re-dedication service was held at CWGC Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Ieper, Belgium, at 2pm on Saturday 21 April for Private Cecil Henry Burns, of 46th Battalion Australian Imperial Force. Son of George and Fanny Maria Burns, of 109, Ingall St., Mayfield, New South Wales. The circumstances surrounding Private Burns death on 19 October 1917, or how he came to be buried as an Unknown Australian Soldier of the 46th Battalion, are unknown.
In 2015 researchers from the Fallen Diggers organisation pieced together evidence from a variety of sources to confirm that the two unknown soldiers graves in Menin Road South Military Cemetery were in fact the graves of Private Burns and Driver Comerford.
The service was organised by the Australian Defence Force. In attendance were 15 members of the ADF as well as local dignitaries and volunteers.
INSCRIPTION: RESTING IN PEACE IN A FOREIGN LAND REMEMBERED BY THOSE YOU LEFT BEHIND
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
106 years ago today, on the 19th October 1917, Private Cecil Henry Burns, 46th Battalion (Reg No-2869), farm hand and stock dealer from "Ellerslie", Jerrys Plains, New South Wales, was Killed in Action at the 1st Battle of Passchendaele, age 25. Cause of death not stated.
No Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File.
Born at Singleton, New South Wales on the 20th October 1892 to George (died 17.5.1939, Mayfield, N.S.W., age 71) and Fanny Maria Burns nee Moore (died 9.10.1937, Balmain, N.S.W., age 68, mother of 11) of "Ellerslie", Jerrys Plains, New South Wales and "Allambi", Albert Street, South Singleton, N.S.W. and 49 Havelock Street, Mayfield, N.S.W. and 109 Ingall Street, Mayfield East, N.S.W., Cecil enlisted on the 23rd October 1916 at Rutherford, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Port Napier on the 17th November 1916.
Cecil is resting at the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium. Plot III Row J Grave 11.
Many thanks to Eddy Lin for the headstone photo.
Cecil fought and survived the 1917 battles of 2nd Battle of Bullecourt, Messines Ridge, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele. He was 25 years old when he was killed.
A re-dedication service was held at CWGC Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Ieper, Belgium, at 2pm on Saturday 21 April for Private Cecil Henry Burns, of 46th Battalion Australian Imperial Force. Son of George and Fanny Maria Burns, of 109, Ingall St., Mayfield, New South Wales. The circumstances surrounding Private Burns death on 19 October 1917, or how he came to be buried as an Unknown Australian Soldier of the 46th Battalion, are unknown.
In 2015 researchers from the Fallen Diggers organisation (sic great organisation!) pieced together evidence from a variety of sources to confirm that the two unknown soldiers graves in Menin Road South Military Cemetery were in fact the graves of Private Burns and Driver Comerford.
The service was organised by the Australian Defence Force. In attendance were 15 members of the ADF as well as local dignitaries and volunteers.
INSCRIPTION: RESTING IN PEACE IN A FOREIGN LAND REMEMBERED BY THOSE YOU LEFT BEHIND.
Place of Association - Singleton, New South Wales, Australia.
Mr. Burns’s name has been inscribed on the Singleton & District War Memorial and the Singleton Superior Public School Roll of Honour.
There is no memorial inscription on the headstone plaque for the Burns family to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, so on the 19th October 2017 I erected a Memorial cross adorned with poppies in remembrance of Cecil’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 2-145. 63.
Younger brother Robert Cyrus Hilton (referred to as Hilton, born 17.2.1895, Singleton, New South Wales, dairy farmer from Jerrys Plains, New South Wales and 72 Fawcett Street, Mayfield, N.S.W., enlisted 23.10.1916, 46th Battalion, Reg No-2870, Wounded in Action 10.8.1917 (GSW left side), RTA 27.11.1919, died 2.9.1946, Scone, N.S.W., funeral notice does not state service, referred to as Hilton, not officially commemorated) resting at the cemetery. ANGLICAN 3-154. 25.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.