Name
William John Tanner Burrows
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/01/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
47268
Labour Corps
124th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot XIII Row G Grave 3
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
William was born in Buckingham, Bucks around 1884 to Thomas and Jane Burrows.
In 1891 the family were living at 15 Mitre Street, Buckingham. Present were his parents Thomas (34), working as a carrier on farm, and Jane (35). Their children were: William John (6), John (4) and Mary Elizabeth (1).
In 1901 they were still in Mitre Street, Buckingham, but now at 23. His father was listed as a milk carman. Both parents were present with their children now listed as William at 16 was now working as a furniture porter, Mary, sons Joseph Ernest (9) and Arthur T Burrows (5) and Gladys at 2 months.
By 1911 William had left home and was boarding with the Currell family at 61 Lancaster Rd, Hitchin, and working as a furniture porter for a house furnisher. His parents and some siblings were still at 23 Mitre Street, Buckingham,
He married May Bignell in Buckingham Parish Church on 14 September 1911 and they had three young children; Annie (b1912), Gladys (b1915) and William (b1917) his home was at 28, Union Road, Hitchin.
Before the war he was employed in the furniture department of Moss and Sons. William was a Sunday school teacher at St. John's Church, Hitchin, a member of the Church of England Men's Society and a member of the Bible Class.
William enlisted in the Royal West Surrey Regiment with the Regimental Number 47268. It has been suggested that this was on the 24 June 1916 but was not called for service until 26th February 1917. Although a newspaper reported that had previously been rejected several times.
He was officially recorded as born in Buckingham, Bucks., and enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He was called for service on the 26 February 1917 in Bedford. His service papers were signed on behalf of the Royal West Surrey Regiment, and suggest that he enlisted in the 16th Labour Company of the Royal West Surrey Regiment
He was living at 28 Union Road, Hitchin. He was 32 years and 4 months old and working as a packer and warehouseman. He was 5’ 4 and weighed 130lbs, of good physical development, but had defective teeth
He was called for service 26 February 1917, posted to 16th Labour Company 28 February 1917, was in England until to 10 March 1917. The he went to the B.E.F. in France from 11 March 1917, when he landed in Boulogne. He was transferred to the 124th Labour Company on 14 May 1917 and, with the exception of leave in the UK, between 23 December 1917 to 6 January 1918, remained in France until his death
During his leave he suffered a bad cough which was then aggravated by a long march through deep snow back to his unit during which he collapsed several times. He was admitted to hospital a few days after arriving back in France and died of bronchitis and nephritis in the 4th Casualty Clearing Station.
The hospital chaplain wrote to his widow: “You may rest assured that your husband, like my son, who was killed out here a short time ago, died as a soldier in a great cause.”
He was buried in Plot XIII, Row G, Grave 3 in Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £7 18s 5d was authorised to go to his widow on 9 April 1918 and later a war gratuity of £3 was also authorised.
His personal effects, which included his disc, wallet, letters, razor, scissors, photos, ???, cap badge, 3 religious books, purse and 50 cent note (defaced), were forward to the Hitchin address in April 1918
His widow was still in Hitchin at 25 May 1918, when she signed the form submitting living relatives
12 October 1919, but his pension cards give his next of kin as his widow, May Burrows, at High Street, Cranbrook, Kent, so she must have moved there.
He had two brothers also serving in the army, one of whom was killed in action in the summer of 1916.
In 1919 the following In Memoriam notice was place in the local paper:
In loving memory of Private William J T Burrows, who died at the 4th Casualty Clearing Station, France, January 21, 1918 aged 33 years.
Some may think that we forget you
When they sometimes see a smile,
But they know not of the sorrow
That the smile hides all the while.
From his loving Wife and Children, Mother, Sisters and Brother
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
