Private Francis Burns.
10349 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.
Killed in Action 9th May 1915, aged 24.
Francis was born in Burnley about Aug 1899, son of Thomas and Ellen Burns. In the 1901 census, 7 mths old he and his parents were living at 3 Howarth St, Burnley. His father’s occupation was Iron labourer and his mother a ring spinner in a cotton mill.
Francis was a regular soldier and in the 1911 census he was stationed at the Inkerman Barracks, Knaphill, Woking with his Regt. 1st East Lancashires and he was single.
According to John Chaloner, 9th April 2017, who left a posting on the Findagrave site: “Francis was the only son of Thomas and Ellen Burns of Burnley. A regular soldier and an unsung hero of the attack at Aubers Ridge 09 May 1915. Under very heavy enemy fire, Francis brought his wounded company commander to safety before being killed himself.
From the Burnley Express dated 2 June 1915: SAVED HIS OFFICER. DEAD SOLDIERS BRAVERY.
Mrs Burns of 13 Lincoln Street Burnley receive notification from the war office on Wednesday that her only son, Private Frank Burns of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action on May 9th. Private Burns who would have been 25 in August had been in South Africa for 4 years. Sergeant Morgan of the "C" Company writing to Mrs. Burns says: "I am only keeping my promise to him, as just as we were together and he asked me if anything happened to him would I write to let you know. That was the last, I saw of him, as I had my platoon to look after, until he was killed. There is one consolation, if so it can be called and that is he died an hero. As perhaps he has told you before, he was orderly to the company officer, and when the company officer was wounded, Pte Burns was with him and brought this officer into safety before he was killed himself. I cannot say how sorry I am about this. We were always good chums and I was sorry to lose him. Still my loss is nothing compared with yours, as his mother. Please accept my sincere sympathy, also that of the company who are left, by whom he was greatly liked and respected."
Pte. Burns' father is serving with the Yorkshire Light Infantry, and has been in trenches in France. Who was in the South African War was smothered in one of the trenches buy an explosion caused by the Germans. The deceased soldier’s cousin Pte Dennis Burns of the 1st East Lancs. Regiment, is in hospital suffering from a wound.
Francis left his effects to both his parents Thomas and Ellen.
Francis lived at 13 Lincoln St., Burnley.
Francis is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium: Grave Ref; Panels 5 & 6.
The Battle of Aubers Ridge:
The Battle was a British offensive on the Western Front on 9 May 1915 during WW1. The battle was part of the British contribution to the 2nd battle of Artois, a Franco-British offensive intended to exploit the German diversion of troops to the Eastern Front. The French Tenth Army was to attack the German 6th Army north of Arras and capture Vimy Ridge, preparatory to an advance on Cambrai and Douai. The British First Army on the left (northern) flank of the Tenth Army, was to attack on the same day and widen the gap in the German defences expected to be made by the Tenth Army and to prevent German troops from being moved south of La Bassée canal.
