Name
James Stanley Burr
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/06/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Staff Serjeant
12749
Royal Garrison Artillery
Experimental Establishment, Royal Arsenal
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
STANDON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Standon War Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon, Puckeridge Memorial Plaque, Standon Village Hall, Standon
Biography
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the information:
Staff Sgt No. 12749. He died 6th June 1916 aged 29, following discharged from the army being no longer physically fit. He is buried in St Mary’s churchyard, Standon
Apart from some training, he had been stationed at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Experimental Establishment almost from the start of his service.
James Stanley Burr was baptised 22nd August 1886 at St Mary’s Church, Standon to parents James Henry and Ellen Burr (nee Rainbow). His father’s occupation is shown as a baker in Standon. Indeed the Burr family had been baking bread locally since at least 1840.
The 1891 Census shows the four year old with his widowed mother Ellen, who is described as both baker and postmistress, plus seven children, two of whom were from a previous marriage, with the surname Lucas. His father had died in 1890 at the age of 37.
By 1901 James Stanley is living as a boarder with a family of bakers named Edwards in Hampstead, working for a living at the age of 14.
On enlistment into the army in 1902 he gave his age as 18, and the medical officer at Bedford says he had an “apparent” age of 20. In fact he was only 17. As his service record has survived, we have a description of James Stanley:
"Height: Almost 5 ft 10 ins. Weight: 208 lbs. Chest: 40” expanding to 43”. Fresh complexion, light brown eyes, black hair. Scar on left cheek bone, and a mole on left side of neck."
As part of his initial training he was at Gt Yarmouth in November 1902, rank Gunner. He was posted to Woolwich in November 1904.
Additional Information
His grave (not CWGC) bears the inscription:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
STAFF-SERGT JAS. STANLEY BURR ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JUNE 5TH(*!) 1916 AGED 29 YEARS.
“THY WILL BE DONE.”
“NOT STIRRING WORDS NOR GALLANT DEEDS ALONE,
PLAIN FATEFUL(?) WORD(?) UNFILLED THAT UNFILLED THAT LENGTH OF LIFE,
DUTY NOT GLORY, SERVICE NOT A THRONE
INSPIRED(?) AND BEFORE SET FOR HIM THE STRIFE.”
*1 CWGC records 6th.
Acknowledgments
Di Vanderson, Jonty Wild
