Photo: Dorothy Hall
Photo: Dorothy Hall
In Barnard Castle (St. Mary) Church Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Arthur Roland Burn
2nd Lieut. 6th Durham Light Infantry
only son of T. & S.A. Burn
killed in action at ??? France
March 27th 1918 aged 31 years
Faithful unto death
Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Arthur, the son of Thomas and Sarah Alice (nee Barker) in 1897 was born at Barnard Castle. The couple married in 1891 but only had the one child.
The 1901 shows the family living together at 1 Montalbo Terrace, Barnard Castle. His father is missing on this census probably because his occupation was a marine engineer so it can be assumed he was at sea in 1901. The couple were able to afford a servant.
By 1911 little had changed in the family life although his father, Thomas, was at home probably on leave. Arthur was at school at this time.
Arthur enlisted directly after leaving North East Counties School. At first he served with units with the Royal Fusiliers, City of London Regiment. His service number was PS/2435. At that time he was a Lance Corporal but before too long he started up the promotion ladder and at the time of his death was 2nd Lieutenant with 14th Durham Light Infantry.
He was posted to France 14th November 1915 and was killed in action 26th March 1918.
On the day of his death he had been asked to stem a German advance. In the retreat towards a shallow trench he was heard to say “I’ve got one” (been shot). Can you do anything for me? In a letter to his mother Captain Cardew wrote that Arthur died almost immediately without pain and about how his conduct that day was magnificent. I could only wish that he had come through it to receive the honour he deserves. Several other men were lost at the same time and their bodies were not recovered.
He left £84 7s. 3d to his father who by this time appears to have retired and is listed as being corn and seed merchant.
Medals :- 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur Roland Burn is remembered in Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.04, B135.10, B135.12, B135.20, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 60
