Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: John Edward Burrows

Ancestor's date of birth: 01/01/1878

Ancestor's date of death: 01/01/1944

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: John was born in Norwich in the UK in 1875 and was the brother of George in 2NSWMR.

Service Number: 2893

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW Place of Enlistment: Sydney

Unit: 'A' Bty, Royal Australian Artillery (NSW Permanent Military Forces)

Rank attained in Boer War: GNR, Date Effective: 01/11/1899

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 03/04/1916

Murray Page: 53

Contingent: Second New South Wales

Ship: SS Warrigal, Date of Sailing: 30/12/1899

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Orange Free State, Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Height 165 cm, weight 76 kg (1915) of fair complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair.

Reasons to go and fight: Was a serving member of the regular forces

Details of service in war: February 1900 - August 1901 in Cape Colony and Transvaal; the only regular Australian military unit to serve in South Africa. The battery was split into sections and it is not clear which section that John belonged to. He returned with the battery on the SS Harlech Castle on 15 Sept 1901

Service and life after the Boer War: Married Annie. Served a total of three years in the RAA, then bought himself out of the commitment. Worked as a contractor and lived at Glebe. Joined the AIF 22 September 1915. Served in Palestine, initially with the 2 Remount Unit, promoted sergeant and transferred to the ANZAC Police 3 April 1916 (he did ask to revert to private, and spent some time in hospital), transferred to 6 LH 26 June 1916. Returned Australia July 1916 and discharged 9 December 1916. to He died in 1944 at Canterbury, NSW.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Elaine Young
Relationship to Ancestor: Second Cousin

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