Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Richard Burlison was the eldest son of George Burlison born at Edmondsley in 1870 and Mary Oxnard born 1876 at Herrington, both in County Durham, whom he married in the district of Durham in 1896. Richard was born in 1896, Isabella 1899, Thomas Henry 1900, James Henry 1902 and William 1906. His father was employed as a coal miner/hewer at Brandon Colliery where they lived at 26, Park Street. His wife Mary died aged 31 years leaving him with 5 children between the ages of 11 and 2. He remarried at Gateshead in 1908 to Margaret Jane Robson a divorcee with 5 children of her own. George and Margaret Jane left Gateshead and moved to 26, Durham Street, Brandon Colliery where George was employed as a hewer and his eldest son Richard (14) as a driver below ground, their lodger John Haddock also worked at the colliery as a putter. Only Caroline Robson (18) was living with them whilst her brothers Robert (23), Thomas William (16) and her father Matthew lived at 227, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead, with his widowed mother Caroline Robson (83). Thomas William was a fitter’s apprentice at an engineering works, Matthew, a labourer and Robert, a fitter, were employed by Redheugh Gas Works, her other siblings were married.
Richard Burlison left his employment as a coal miner and enlisted at Durham November 1914 declaring he was 19 years 2 months old when in fact he was barely 18 years of age. Assigned as Private 14823 East Yorkshire Regiment he was transferred to their barracks at Beverley, Yorkshire November 12th and attached to the 9th Battalion. Prior to his departure July 30th 1915 for the Western Front he was moved to the 1st Battalion attached to the 18th Brigade, 6th Division joining them in the field in Belgium during the Battle of Hooge. The battle was fought against a new German weapon, the flamethrower, which they used to great effect along with machine gun fire. Although very few men died of burns it had a very demoralising effect on the men. Private Burlison remained on the Ypres salient until he was taken, September 17th 1915, by the 18th Field Ambulance to the 6th Dressing Station at Le Havre, cause unknown. He was discharged 9 days later and returned to his regiment still engaged on the Ypres salient.
Private 14823 Richard Burlison was reported missing November 11th 1915 and after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts it was confirmed that he was deemed to have been killed in action that day. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 54,395 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres Belgium, commemorating those who died on the Ypres salient up to August 15th 1917 who have never been found or have no known grave. He was 19 years old and single.
His father received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at his home address of 51, Queen Street, Brandon Colliery, County Durham.
Richard’s half-brother Robert Robson serving with the Yorkshire Regiment was killed 13 months later, October 3rd 1916, half-brother Thomas William Robson also served and survived the conflict although severely disabled.
His father George Burlison died in the district of Durham in 1954 aged 84 years and was proceeded by that of his step-mother Margaret Jane Burlison-Robson nee Ladler aged 56 years in 1934.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Richard Burlison is remembered at Meadowfield on M50.01
