Tyne Cot Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Storey Gibson Burn was born at Felling/Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham, during the 1st quarter, (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1887, one of 11 children, of whom only 10 survived, 6 sons and 4 daughters. The fourth born son of coal miner Thomas Burn, native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne born 1850 and his wife Ann born 1851 at Whitby in Yorkshire. By the time he was 4 years old the family had moved from Wardley to Heworth, near Gateshead and were living at 38, Waggonway Street, his father, brother John Thomas (17) and George Robert (13) were all employed as coal miners at the colliery. When William was only 7 years old, in 1894, his father died, aged only 44 years, his mother continued to be supported by her elder sons who by 1901 had found employment as miners, with the exception of William and his younger brothers. In the census of 1911 George Robert is listed as head of the family, which had moved from Waggonway Street Heworth to 28, Waggonway Row, Wardley Colliery, William now aged 22 years was employed as a putter. Two years later, September 1913, William married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland to Catherine B. A. Anderson born 1885.
On the outbreak of war William Storey Gibson Burn enlisted at Wallsend-on-Tyne, assigned as Private 10948 to the 12th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, part of Kitchener’s Third New Army formed at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, September 1914, part of the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. The Division concentrated near Tring, Hertfordshire, training at Halton Park before moving back into billets at Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, High Whickham and Maidenhead for the winter. In May1915 the infantry moved to huts at Halton Park, on to Whitley camp, August 9th and Private Burn departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force September 9th 1915. Without any nursery training in trench warfare they were marched across France, their first experience of action was during the British assault at Loos, September 26th 1915, where they suffered heavy losses. During 1916 they participated at the Battles of the Somme, including the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th, the Battle of Morval, September 25th-28th, where the Division captured Geudecourt and the Battle of Transloy, October 1st-18th. In 1917 they were in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Arras Offensive. During August 1917 they joined forces with the 13th Battalion to form the 12th/13th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and were moved to the front line in Belgium to participate during at the Third Battle of Ypres which had begun July 31st 1917 on the salient and raged until November 10th 1917.
Private 10948 William Storey Gibson Burn Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action November 9th 1917. His death added to his family’s grief, his brother Private 7994 Charles Henderson Burn aged 33 years and single, also of the 12th/13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers had been declared, “presumed dead”, 5 weeks prior to him, October 4th 1917. The sacrifice of both brothers is recorded, panel 16-23, at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium. The panels form the walled back drop to the cemetery and are dedicated to those who died on the salient and have no known grave. William was 30 years old.
His widow Catherine received all monies due to him along with his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. William and Catherine do not appear to have had any children. She remarried in 1921 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Edward Henderson with whom she had a daughter Phyllis E Henderson born at Gateshead in 1925. Catherine B. A. Henderson-Burn nee Anderson died aged 41 years in 1926, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Storey Gibson Burn is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
