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Thomas Burns cap badgePrivate Thomas Burns

2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Service No: 7310

Thomas Burns grave

1504

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Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

From the 1901 Census - Address - 23g Sunnyside Rd, Coatbridge - Thomas was a boarder - James McQueeney aged 32, Mary McQueeney aged 24, Jessie McQueeney aged 5, James McQueeney aged 3, Patrick McQueeney aged 2, Maggie McQueeney aged 14 and boarder Thomas Burns aged 21. Mrs Clara Downie is listed as Guardian of Thomas and she received his property and effects.

Born / Resided

Moor Cottages, Shankill, Belfast, Co. Antrim / 15 Whifflet St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 25/04/1915 at the Battle of St. Julien (part of the 2nd Battles of Ypres)

Enlisted

Belfast 1914 originally 30/11/1900 Victoria Barracks, Belfast 1899

Employed

Miner in Rosehall Colliery, Coatbridge / Reservist.

Age

34

Buried / Remembered

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 44 and 46), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave. Between October 1914 and September 1918 hundreds of thousands of servicemen of the British Empire marched through the town of Ypres's Menin Gate on their way to the battlefields. The memorial now stands as a reminder of those who died who have no known grave and is perhaps one of the most well-known war memorials in the world. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 22/08/1914 and were part of the 10th Brigade, 4th Division. Thomas arrived on the 14/09/1914. Thomas was Killed in Action when the 2nd Battalion was rushed forward on the 23/04/1915 to stem the German breakthrough after the first gas attack of the War. The Dublins then went into the line at Mousetrap Farm. Thomas fell at the Battle of St Julien. This was part of the Battles of Ypres, 1915 (Second Ypres) : 22nd of April – 25th of May 1915 : Often known as the Second Battle of Ypres, this began with surprise German attack using poison gas against French North African forces holding defences near Ypres. Both sides rushed reserves in and the battle developed into the second epic in that area. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH - APRIL 1915. The War Diary states casualties on the 25/04/1915 : Killed - 45, Other Ranks Wounded - 80, Missing - 371. The casualty totals from the 25/04/1915 - 25/05/1915 : Officers - 24 Killed, 14 Wounded, 2 Missing, Other Ranks - 103 Killed, 291 Wounded, 1094 Missing. Thomas is also remembered on the St. Mary's Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his listing in Ireland Casualties WW1, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects (Mrs Clara Downie stated as Guardian), his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Cap Badge and Thomas' Service Records x 12 (records 11 and 12 state Mrs Clara Downie as receiving Thomas' belongings. These were a pouch, religious badge, 2 letters and an identity disc).

Photos
Thomas Burns Medal Index CardThomas Burns newspaper clippingThomas Burns remembered at homeThomas Burns remembered at homeThomas Burns remembered at homeThomas Burns remembered at homeThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photoThomas Burns additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

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