In Sunderland (Southwick) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
110982 Pioneer
E. Burdon
Royal Engineers
13th October 1915 age 41
Edward Burnaby Burdon was born on the 26th December 1873, baptised on the 18th January 1874. He was the third son of nine children to Edward Barnaby Burdon, [born 1842, died 26th January 1920], of Southwick on Wear, a joiner, and his wife Margaret, [nee Wake], daughter of Richard Wake of Southwick. They were married on the 8th November 1860 in the Holy Trinity Parish Church, Sunderland. The other children were Margaret Wake, born September 1861, William Robert, born June 1863, Mary Elizabeth, born June 1865 (Died September 1866), Richard Wake, born June 1867, Kate, born December 1869, Jenny, born March 1872, Thomas, born March 1876, Lilly Maud, born June 1878 and Fred, born March 1881.
In 1881 the family were residing at 1 Clarendon Street, Southwick. Margaret the eldest, 20, had left home and was employed as a nursemaid for Charles Briggs and his family. Briggs was a land owner residing in Hylton Castle.
By 1891, Edward and Margaret had adopted Jenny Hopper who was born in the March 1886.
Edward Burnaby Burdon was educated at the Southwick Board School, and was employed at Wearmouth Colliery.
He married at St Columbu’s Church, Southwick, on the 7th June 1887, Isabella [Isabel] of 18 Edward Murdis Street, Southwick. She was the daughter of James Turnbull. Edward was a member of the Church Boys Brigade the CLB.
Edward and Isabella had seven children, Edward Barnaby born 19th September 1888, James Turnbull born 28th August 1889, baptised 19th September 1899, [married Mary Jackson, 5th August 1923 at St John the Baptist, Kentish Town, Camden, England], Ernest Sidney born 2nd May 1903, Mary Lillian born 7th May 1905, baptised 28th May, Nicholas Turnbull born 29th December 1908, Thomas Wake and Margaret Jenny twins born 28th December 1910. They resided at 28 Chilton Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland.
In the 1901 census, Edward and his family having moved from the North East to the parish of Westgate in Norfolk. They were residing in a private house and Edward gave his employment as a Road Surveyor. How Edward became a Road Surveyor is not known.
By December 1908, the family had returned to the North East and were residing in two rooms at 19 James Armitage Street. Margaret died at 1 Clarendon Street on the 26th January 1911. She is buried at Southwick Cemetery.
Edward enlisted for the period of the war on the 29th July 1915 with the service number 110982, into the 1st Company, 1st Labour Battalion. On the 22nd August 1915, he is sent to France. [They served with XIV Corps]. On the 16th September 1915 he was invalided home, and died in the Royal Northern Hospital Holloway Road, on the 13th October 1915, following an operation for appendicitis. He is buried at Southwick Cemetery.
In 1915, his wife and children were residing at 18 Edward Burdis Street. Southwick. This is where she received an gratuity from the Army of £7 9 shillings an 10 pence.
Edward’s father continued to live at 1 Clarendon Street and it was here that he died on the 26th January 1920 aged 78 years. He was laid to rest in Section O Grave no. 6213 of Southwick Cemetery.
Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Acknowledgements: Derek Haynes
Edward Burdon is remembered at Southwick on S130.13, S130.15, S130.16 and S130.22 and in Peter Gibson’s book.
