William Henry BURROWS MC + Bar

BURROWS, William Henry

Service Numbers: 52, 51063
Enlisted: 7 September 1914, Perth
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
Born: Mundulla, South Australia, Australia, 17 June 1893
Home Town: Yarloop, Harvey, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Sleeper Hewer
Died: Natural causes, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia, 17 May 1968, aged 74 years
Cemetery: Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales
Cremated
Memorials: Municipality of Hurstville Pictorial Honour Roll No 2, Yarloop War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

7 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 52, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Perth
22 Dec 1914: Embarked Private, 52, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne
22 Dec 1914: Involvement Private, 52, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
12 Jan 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
13 May 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
1 Sep 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
19 Aug 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
22 Apr 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
15 Jun 1917: Honoured Military Cross, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations on the Hendeburg Line in front of Reincourt on 11 April 1917. He hed his platoon through uncut wire in front of second objective giving his men all assistance necessary. He set a fine example to all ranks.
21 Jan 1918: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private
19 Jun 1918: Involvement Private, 51063, 1st to 15th (NSW) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Field Marshal embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
19 Jun 1918: Embarked Private, 51063, 1st to 15th (NSW) Reinforcements, SS Field Marshal, Sydney
16 Sep 1918: Honoured Military Cross and bar, German Spring Offensive 1918, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Hebuterne on 1 April 1918. He led his platoon along an enemy trench, taking his objective by assault before leading a bombing attack down a communication trench, inflicting many casualties and taking a considerable number of prisoners. He then personally supervised the placement and construction of bombing posts further down the trench setting his men a fine example.
19 Oct 1918: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HT Sardinia, England, 1914 Leave for return to Australia - arriving Fremantle 16 December 1918
22 Mar 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Born William Henry BURROWS

Son of Frederick Bosingham BURROWS and Isabella nee STEEL

 

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He personally led his platoon through uncut wire in front of the second objective, and gave his men all the assistance that was in his power. He continued to perform gallant work throughout the day, and set a fine example to all ranks.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917
 

Bar to Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his platoon along an enemy trench, taking his objective by assault. He then led a bombing attack down a communication trench, inflicting many casualties and taking a considerable number of prisoners. He personally supervised the construction of bombing posts further down the trench. He set his men a very fine example.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919

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