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BURN, Harold Thomas (1889-1916) +

H T Burn (GC War Service)

H T Burn (GC War Service)

BURN, Harold Thomas (1889-1916)


Harold Thomas Burn was born on 28 May 1889, the youngest of ten children of George Lewis Burn and Margaret Theresa nee Hede.

He was enrolled at the College in 1904 becoming a member of the 1st Football XVIII of 1906. His address on entering was Sharp St, Chilwell.
He also won the following academic awards:
1905, 1st, Arithmetic, Lower 4th Form.
1905, 1st, Algebra, 3rd Form.

On leaving School he entered the stock department of Dennys Lascelles Ltd, and remained there until, during World War I, he enlisted (No 3470) in the AIF in Geelong on 23 July 1915. Private H T Burn embarked with the 8th Reinforcements, 22 Battalion, from Melbourne aboard HMAT A19 Afric on 5 January 1916. He embarked for France where he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to 58 Battalion. He died of wounds in France, aged 27, on 23 December 1916. His name is commemorated at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, in France, Officers’ Plot, Grave B.3.30.

The Australian War Memorial (AWM) Collection holds a studio portrait of H T Burn, taken by the Darge Photographic Company at Broadmeadows in September 1915. His older brother, Pte Norman Burn (of Geelong), 14 Battalion, died forty days later on 1 February 1917 of wounds suffered at Bapaume, and was buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave IV.H.15, leaving a widow, Nellie Olive Burn.

Two other brothers served in the Great War, Pte Francis Herbert Burn, who enlisted, aged 39, and embarked with the 58th Battalion (3rd Reinforcement Group) on HMAT A31 Ajana on 8 July 1916, and returned to Australia, embarking on 27 August 1917; and Dvr Stanley John Burn, who enlisted, aged 34, and embarked with 3 Divisional Ammunition Column on 23 November 1916, and returned to Australia, embarking on 1 July 1919.


Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp13-14 (citing Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Australian War Memorial; John Laffin, Guide to Australian Battlefields of the Western Front 1916-1918; Photo The Pegasus May 1917; AWM DA10354.)
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