At Bolton Chapel, Alnwick is the grave of Major William Matthew Burrell, serving with the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry, who died 10/11/1914.

William Matthew Burrell was born the 2nd February 1876 at Glen Allen, Alnwick, Northumberland, and was the eldest son of William John Burrell, [born 1846, died 14th February 1888], and his wife Helena Elizabeth, [died 22nd January 1887], 2nd daughter of Major Alexander Browne, of Doxford Hall.

William resided at Broome Park, Northumberland and Hampton Court, Hereford.

He married at Carham, 13th May 1903, Nancy (Hampton Court, Leominster, Herefordshire). She was the 2nd daughter of the late Charles Perkins, of Carham Hall, Coldstream and Birtley Hall, Durham. They had four children: Michael born 8th July 1909, but died on the 4th January 1910, Charles Dominic, (now of Broome Park), born 11th August 1914, Cornelia Mary born 12th January 1911, and Phillipa born 25th August 1912.

He bought Hampton Court in 1912 and it was used as a Military Hospital in WW1.

He was educated at Harrow, and gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant, in the 12th Royal Lancers on the 15th May 1897. Promoted in 1900 to Lieutenant, prior to being promoted to a Captain on the 22nd November 1902.

He served in the South African War, 1899-1902 took part in the advance and relief of Kimberley, including action at Maggersfontein. Further operations in the Orange Free State from February to May 1900, then operations in the Transvaal, May June 1900. Actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill, Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29th November 1900, further involvement at the Orange River Colony May to 29th November, including actions at Lindley, Bethlehem and Witterbergen.

Then from the 30th November to July 1901 further action in the Transvaal. Cape Colony July 1901 to 31st May 1902.

He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 clasps and the King’s Medal with 2 clasps. He was an Adjutant from 1904 to 1907.

William then retired on the 13th May 1907.

He was commissioned into the Northumberland Yeomanry Hussars and promoted to Major on the 7th June 1913.

On the outbreak of War he was on route to France with his regiment, when he contracted pneumonia at Southampton. He died on the 10th November in 1914 of septic pneumonia at a Nursing Home at Bath.

Probate was granted at London on 14th January 1915 to his widow, Nancy Burrell; his effects amounting to £14,279 3s. 3d.

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

He was a friend of Captain J. M. Lambert

Anne McFadgen has supplied the following:

I have been doing some research on the Burrell family of Broome Park, to which Major W.M. Burrell belonged. The family was an influential one, with several members serving as High Constables of Northumberland and there was also a tradition of military service – see Major Bryan Burrell of the 15th Hussars.

Mr Duff Burrell, the current incumbent of Broome Park, grandson of Major W.M. Burrell, is on record as confirming that his grandfather is buried at Bolton Chapel, which is attached to the Burrell family.

David Thompson has supplied the following:-

William Matthew Burrell was born on 2nd February 1876, at Glen Allen, Alnwick, Northumberland, the eldest son of William John Burrell (b. 1846; d. 14 February, 1888) and his wife Helena Elizabeth, second daughter of Major Alexander Browne, of Doxford Hall, Northumberland.

Educated at Harrow.

Burrell resided at Broome Park, Northumberland and Hampton Court, near Leominster, Herefordshire.  He bought Hampton Court in 1912, which was used as a Military Hospital during the First World War.

He married at Carham, on 13 May 1903, Nancy, second daughter of the late Charles Perkins, of Carham Hall, Coldstream and Birtley Hall, Durham.  They had four children: Michael (b. 8 July 1909; d. 4 January 1910); Cornelia Mary (b. 12 January 1911); Phillipa (b. 25 August 1912); and Charles Dominic (b. 11 August 1914).

Gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant, in the 12th Royal Lancers on 15 May 1897.  Promoted in 1900 to Lieutenant, prior to being promoted to Captain on 22 November 1902.

Served in the South African War 1899-1902.  Took part in the advance and relief of Kimberley, including action at Maggersfontein.

Further operations in the Orange Free State from February to May 1900, then operations in the Transvaal, May-June 1900.  Actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill, Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 November, 1900.  Further involvement at the Orange River Colony, May to 29 November, including actions at Lindley, Bethlehem and Witterbergen.  Then, from 30 November to July 1901 further action in the Transvaal.  Cape Colony July 1901 to 31 May 1902.

Awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps.

He was an Adjutant from 1904 to 1907.

Burrell retired from the Army on 13 May 1907.

He was commissioned into the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry and promoted to Major on 7 June 1913.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 13/11/1914 reports:-

DEATH. The death has taken place of Major William Matthew Burrell, of Broome Park, Northumberland. He died of pneumonia, and his illness commenced at Southampton, when as major, he was with the Northumberland Imperial Huassars Yeomanry enroute for France. The deceased was a son of the late Mr. Wm. Burrell, of Broome Park, and he married the second daughter of the late Mr. Charles Perkins. of Birtley, Durham, and Carham Hall, Northumberland. He served for many years in the 12th Lancers, and was with them with the rank of captain in the South African War. He was well-known in military and many other circles, and was a Justice of the Peace for Northumberland. The funeral will be at Bolton Churchyard, Glanton, Northumberland to-morrow at noon.

The family was an influential one with several members serving as High Constables of Northumberland and there was also a tradition of military service, so it is perhaps surprising that Burrell is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.

William Matthew Burrell is remembered at Leominster, Herefordshire, on the Hope-under-Dinmore Memorial, near Hampton Court and on Surrey County Cricket Club Memorial.

He is not remembered on any North East England War Memorial.

There is no CWGC entry for Major Burrell.