John Burn

Forename(s):
John

Surname:
Burn

Initial(s):
J

Service Number:
29/77

Rank:
Private

Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Battalion

Died:
27/09/1918

Aged:
39

Buried:
Lowrie Cemetery, Havrincourt

Service History:
Enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. His service number would suggest, maybe, in July or August 1915.

Joined the Northumberland Fusilier's 29th (Reserve) Battalion which was formed at Alnwick (July 1915) from the depot companies of the regiment's 20th-23rd (Service) Battalion's (Tyneside Scottish).

The Roll of Individuals entitled to the Victory & British War Medals (available via Ancestry.co.uk) reveals that Burn also served with the NF's 25th (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish) before he joined 1st Battalion. It has not been possible to check when this would have been although the earliest letters & cards now with the family suggest that he first went to the front in 1916, possibly when the 25th Battalion was re-built following the disaster on 1 July 1916.

1st Battalion's War Diary is also available via Ancestry.co.uk (also 'The War Diaries of the Battalions...'a DVD-ROM produced by Naval & Military Press Ltd in 2014) but the entries for September 1918 are barely legible unless examined on a PC with a zoom facility. However with the Diary there is a type-written report of operations east of Havrincourt on 27 September 1918.

Burn was a signaller.
(Source: Garth Flack; Grandson; August 2017)

Background:
Born about 1879, husband of Elisabeth (N.B. In some places spelt with a 'z') Burn (née Wilson), of 74, Hedgehope Terrace, East Chevington, Amble, Northumberland. They were married on 10 August 1903 when Elisabeth was 22 years old (Burn was 24).

Their first son, Reuben, was born the following year but died of Scarlatina, aged 2 months. This disease was rife in the Broomhill area at that time due to the absence of a sewage system.

The family was then living in Swarland Terrace, Red Row & in the following three years Lena, Robina & Evelyne (spelt Evlyn on the 1911 Census) were born. The family then moved to 74, Hedgehope Terrace, East Chevington where, between 1908 & 1916 a further four children were born - Thomas; Jack; Robert; & Mary.

Burn was a Miner (Hewer) at East Chevington Drift Mine. His father, grandfather & great grandfather before him were all miners. His wife was a Milliner & Seamstress.

His young widow & seven children moved to Amble & lived in a house on Acklington Road poignantly called 'Lowrie' after the cemetery in France. Elisabeth died in 1960, aged 78. She did not remarry & quite how she successfully raised seven children is a source of amazement to the family. All children had successful lives to varying degrees.

Burn wrote home regularly, addressing letters in turn to his wife & individual children.
(Source: Garth Flack; Grandson; August 2017)

Local Memorial:
South Broomhill Chevington & Broomhill War Memorial, St. John's Churchyard (Source: For Chevington, newmp.org.uk)