BURDEN, Robert Francis
| Service Number: | 4449 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 August 1915, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Springvale, Greater Dandenong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Beechworth State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm Hand |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, 14 February 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Fovant (St. George) Churchyard, Wiltshire - South West, England Plot I, Row E, Grave 2 Headstone Inscription - We Have Lost And Heaven Has Gained One Of The Best The World Contained |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Beechworth War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 5th Infantry Battalion, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 5th Infantry Battalion, Embarked on HMAT 'A32' Themistocles from Melbourne on 28th January 1916, disembarking Alexandria, Egypt on 28th February 1916. | |
| 2 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 46th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, Embarked on KinFauns Castle from Alexandria, Egypt on 2nd June 1916, disembarking Marseilles, Franc on 8th June 1916 to join British Expeditionary Force. | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, Wounded in action, severe gun shot wound to right shoulder. Admitted to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station then transferred to 6th General Hospital on 13th April 1917 at Rouen, France. On 12th May 1917 transferred to 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham, England. Discharged from hospital on 21st May 1917 with furlough to 5th June 1917 and then to report to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham. Private Burden did not report and was A.W.L until 8:30pm on 11th June 1917. Received 7 days Field Punishment No. 2. and forfeiture of 16 days pay. | |
| 16 Aug 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, Proceeded to France from Southampton with Overseas Training Brigade and rejoined unit on 1st September 1917. | |
| 3 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, Wounded in action (second occasion), remained on duty. | |
| 11 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, Field General Courts Martial held on 11th June 1918. A.W.L. from 19th May 1918 to 5th June 1918, period held awaiting trial 7th June 1918 to 10th June 1918. Finding was "Guilty" and sentence of 90 days Field Punishment passed. 30 days of sentence remitted by Corps Commander. Rejoined unit from Field Punishment Compound 23rd August 1918. | |
| 13 Feb 1919: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, Admitted to Fovant Military Hospital seriously ill with pneumonia, succumbing to the illness the following day on 14th February 1919. | |
| 14 Feb 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4449, 46th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4449 awm_unit: 46th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1919-02-14 |
Help us honour Robert Francis Burden's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Daryl Jones
Son of James and Maria S. BURDEN, of Euroa, Victoria. Born at Beechworth, Victoria.
Burial Report regarding the Late 4449 Private Burden
'Deceased was buried with full Military honours the coffin draped with the Australian flag being borne to the graveside on a Gun-carriage preceded by a Firing Party and Band from No. 4 Australian Command Depot, Hurdcott. Six of the deceased's late Unit comrades supported the Pall.
The "Last Post" was sounded and volleys fired over the grave
Headquarters A.I.F. Depots in United Kingdom were represented at the funeral.'
The Officiating Clergyman was Chaplain Parsons (CE) Y.M.C.A. Hurdcott
Date of interment - 18th February 1919
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 14th February…… Private Robert Francis Burden was born at Beechworth, Victoria in 1895. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 26th August, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Farm Hand from Spring Vale, Victoria.
Private Robert Francis Burden, Service number 4449, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 28th January, 1916 with the 5th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcements & disembarked at Alexandria on 28th February, 1916.
On 2nd April, 1916 Private Burden was transferred to 46th Battalion & was taken on strength of 46th Battalion at Serapeum. He was absent off Parade on 6th May, 1916 & was deprived of 2 days’ pay.
He proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) from Alexandria on Kinfauns Castle & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 8th June, 1916.
Private Burden was written up for a Crime - “In the Field - Smoking whilst on Field march 15th July, 1916”. He was deprived of 2 days’ pay. He was written up for a crime – “In the field – A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from 0630 roll call on 25th July, 1916”. He was deprived of 1 days’ pay.
On 16th September, 1916 Private Burden reported sick. He was admitted to 12th Field Ambulance with Parotitis then transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred to 7th General Hospital at St. Omer on 18th September, 1916 with mumps & was discharged to Details on 30th September, 1916. Private Burden rejoined his Unit from Hospital on 10th October, 1916.
He was written up for a crime – “In the field – Using obscene language on 27th October, 1916.” He was deprived of 5 days’ pay.
On 18th November, 1916 Private Burden reported sick. He was admitted to 36th Casualty Clearing Station with Influenza & was discharged on 20th November, 1916. He returned to 46th Battalion in the field on 22nd November, 1916.
Private Robert Francis Burden was wounded in action on 11th April, 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with gunshot wounds to right shoulder. Private Burden was transferred to Ambulance Train No. 27 on 12th April, 1917 & admitted to 6th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 13th April, 1917. He was transferred on 12th May, 1917 to England & admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital at Stirchley, Birmingham, England on 14th May, 1917 with shrapnel wounds to right shoulder – severe. Private Burden was discharged from Hospital & granted furlough from 21st May, 1917 to 5th June, 1917. He was then to report to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset.
On 5th June, 1917 Private Burden was reported A.W.L. from No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset. He was reported as having returned from being absent on 12th June, 1917 & as a result was written up for a Crime - “A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from 3.30 pm on 5th June, 1917 till 8.30 pm on 11th June, 1917”. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2. Time in custody awaiting trial 2 days. Total forfeiture 16 days’ pay.
He was medically classified on several occasions while posted at No. 4 Australian Command Depot, Wareham – fit for overseas training Camp in 2 to 3 weeks & was passed physically & dentally fit on 2nd August, 1917.
Private Burden was marched in to Overseas Training Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire from No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham on 2nd August, 1917. He proceeded overseas to France on 15th August, 1917. He was marched in to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 16th August, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from being wounded on 1st September, 1917.
Private Robert Francis Burden was wounded in action in France (2nd occasion) on 3rd April, 1918 but remained on duty.
He was charged with being absent without leave from 19th May, 1918 to 5th June, 1918. A Court Martial was convened on 11th June, 1918. Private Burden was found guilty & sentenced to 90 days Field Punishment No. 2. Thirty days of his sentence was remitted by Corps Commander. He rejoined his Unit from Field Punishment Compound on 23rd August, 1918.
On 30th January, 1919 Private Burden was marched out ready for return to England (then Australia). He was transferred to England on 10th February, 1919 & was marched in to 3rd Training Brigade on 11th February, 1919.
He was admitted to Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England on 13th February, 1919 seriously ill with Pneumonia.
Private Robert Francis Burden died at 11.40 am on 14th February, 1919 at Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia.
He was buried in St George’s Churchyard, Fovant, Wiltshire, England where 43 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/a---g.html
Inscription:
We Have Lost And Heaven Has Gained One Of The Best The World Contained
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