BURNS, William Henry

BURNS, William Henry – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 719
RANK : Corporal
UNIT : 15th Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 21/09/1914
AGE : 21
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Dalby, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Western Creek, Queensland
RELIGION : Roman Catholic
OCCUPATION : Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 2/05/1915
PLACE OF BURIAL : Gallipoli, Turkey

MEMORIALS : Dalveen WWI Honour Boards, Stanthorpe Soldiers Memorial Rolls of Honor

View Veteran’s Service File : BURNS, William Henry

NOTES :

William Henry Burns was the youngest son of Thomas and Margaret Burns of Koorangarra. Later the family moved to the Dalveen.

William had been working as a carpenter when he enlisted in Dalby, two months after the start of the First World War in 1914. His brothers Thomas Francis Burns 4991 and John James Burns 20912 also enlisted for service during the First World War.

After a brief period of training at the Enoggera Camp, he along with the other members of the 15th Battalion departed Melbourne aboard the SS Ceramic bound for Egypt. After almost two months of extensive training, the 15th Battalion again boarded ships and sailed to Gallipoli. William landed at Anzac Cove on the morning of April 26, 1915.

The 15th Battalion were holding Pope’s Hill at Gallipoli when the enemy advance struck, wounding William who later died from his wounds. Chaplain Frederick William Wary noted in his diary that on the 2 May 1915, he had buried three soldiers at Quinn’s Corner and William Henry Burns was one of the three.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.