BURR, Roy James Gladstone
| Service Number: | 3698 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gordon Street, Glanville West, 6 February 1892 |
| Home Town: | Eudunda, Goyder, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Glanville Public School and Farina State School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Loco Fireman, South Australian Railways |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Mouquet Farm, France, 3 September 1916, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Eudunda War Memorial, Eudunda and District WW1 Roll of Honour, Murray Bridge Roll of Honour WW1, Port Augusta St Augustine's Church Memorial Honor Roll, Quorn District Roll of Honor WW1 Board, Quorn Roll of Honor, Quorn War Memorial, S.A.R. Engineering Branch Midland System Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3698, 12th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 2 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3698, 12th Infantry Battalion, RMS Malwa, Adelaide | |
| 3 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 3698, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3698 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Driver awm_died_date: 1916-09-03 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3698, 52nd Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Roy James Gladstone Burr's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Petersburg Times (SA: 1887 - 1919) Friday 3 November 1916
Letters from the front.
Somewhere in France. Dear Mother and Father—I am in high glee on the receipt of your letter today of July 9, and they came as an extra surprise to me, as we are again on our way to the firing line, and did not expect to receive any mail until after we returned from the firing line. I am going up for the second cut at the Germans, and had a great experience the last time, but came through alright, although I had some pretty close calls, and I hardly know how to explain to you what it is like, but you can pretty well imagine what the feeling would be when you see others getting knocked over, right near you, and all the writing and talking would not give you any idea of the sensation of a big shell bursting around you; the only one I can give is that your insides all goes up into a knot, and when you hear the whistle of them coming through the air you flop down, and after the bang the place is all torn up terribly. We were on the ammunition fatigue carrying up material to the firing line, and had to go through a lot of this, but we sort of got used to it, and if a shell burst anywhere near you, then you get covered all over with dust, and then, you just get up and shake yourself and run like mad until the next one comes. I often have a good laugh now at our experiences, for there was certainly some very, funny things happened which at the time I did not feel much like laughing, anyhow we all make up for it now. I believe we have to go to the front line this time, but I don't think it will be much worse than the ammunition column. Anyhow, I only hope and wish to be able to stand it as well as last time, and also that if I do happen to get knocked that you will not worry over me, for there are hundreds of better fellows than me going out, and I will not write any more about this sort of thing that we are going through. I would not mind some more of the old camp days back again that we had in Australia, for I can say that they were the time of my life. I met Jim Turner as we were coming out last time. He was on his way up to the front, but I hadn't a chance to speak to him, but he looked real well, and as fat as could be. I should have liked to have had a talk to him, hut still I may be able to do so some other time if I drop across him. I would dearly like to get some nice souvenir to send home, but up to now we have not had an opportunity, being billeted in very poor places to get anything nice, but if I can get my eyes on to something you can be sure that I will get it for you. So I will now close with best love and wishes to all. —From your loving son, Roy J. G. Burr. (Since this letter has been received news has been received that Private Burr had been wounded).
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109503113 (nla.gov.au)
Petersburg Times (SA: 1887 - 1919) Friday 25 May 1917
FOR KING AND COUNTRY
The Late Pte. Roy G. Burr.— Messrs. Burr Bros., of Quorn, have received information on Tuesday last that their brother, Pte. Roy G. Burr, has been killed in action on September 4, 1916. Pte. Burr had been reported as missing, and no information has been received since till his death was announced on Tuesday, May 15. The news received concerning his death are very meagre, and no details are given, but we presume that he met his death when he was reported missing in that great battle of Pozieres on the western front on September 4. Pte. Burr, who was 24 years of age, enlisted from Eudunda about two years ago, and sailed with the 52nd Battalion. He was of splendid physique, and bore a character which is praised by all who came in contact with him. Prior to enlistment, Pte. Burr was employed by the South Australian Railways Department as fireman on the Great Northern and Southern Divisions, and was well-known in this district. His parents, who were residents of the far north for about 15 years, now reside at Eudunda. Deep sympathy is expressed by all for Mr. and Mrs. Burr and family.
Click images to start slideshow.