BURNS, John
| Service Number: | 115 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 1st Light Horse Brigade HQ |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 22 September 1885 |
| Home Town: | Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | King's School, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Station hand |
| Died: | Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, 25 February 1921, aged 35 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Burns Family Cemetery, North Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Sep 1914: | Embarked Private, 115, 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance, HMAT Southern, Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Sep 1914: | Embarked Private, 115, 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Southern embarkation_ship_number: A27 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 115, 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance | |
| 25 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 16 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 16 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 1st Light Horse Brigade HQ | |
| 14 Dec 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 115, 1st Light Horse Brigade HQ, See service summary pg 50 NAA service record. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John Burns had served on Gallipoli and had been sent home to Australia with tuberculosis during 1917.
He was one of three brothers who served in the AIF. One brother, Lieutenant Robert David Burns, 14th Machine Gun Company, was killed in action at Fromelles in 1916. In the Sydney Morning Herald of 26 February 1921, Captain John Burns death was announced.
"Captain John Burns, second son of Sir James Burns, M.L.C., principal of the firm of Burns, Philp, and Co., Ltd., died at his residence, Shaftesbury, Cootamundra, on Friday last, in his 35th year.
After studying at King's School, Parramatta, Mr. Burns entered commercial life for a period, but relinquished it in favour of pastoral pursuits, acquiring interests in various New South Wales and Queensland station properties.
Upon the outbreak of hostilities he enlisted, and served three years at the front—at Gallipoli, Egypt, and Palestine—rising to the rank of captain. At Gallipoli he was General Walker's A.D.C., and had the Gallipoli Star. More recently he resided at Cootamundra, where he interested himself in the Shaftesbury Station.
Captain Burns returned from the war in indifferent health, and his death was (said to be) due to a series of complications arising from the illness caused by his service at the front."
His name is not recorded on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour.
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