A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

Family group:

Pair: Acting Corporal T. Burn, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, late 10th (Canadians) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who sustained poison gas burns with the latter unit on 19 August 1917

British War and Victory Medals (904695 A. Cpl. T. Burn, 10-Can. Inf.), extremely fine

The Memorial Plaque issued in remembrance of his brother, Private G. Burn, 10th (Canadians) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action in the Lens sector in October 1917

Memorial Plaque (George Burn), old fitment and solder marks to reverse, this very fine (3) £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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Thomas Burn was born in Roxburgh, Scotland, on 14 February 1878. A Bridge Construction Worker by occupation, he enlisted in the 194th Battalion (Edmonton Highlanders) in March 1916 and arrived in England that November. Embarked for France in April 1917, he was posted to the ‘10th Canadians’ and, on 19 August 1917, suffered poison gas burns and was treated at the No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance for several days. Burn transferred to the 1st Canadian Machine Gun Corps in May 1918, being advanced to Acting Corporal in October, and was discharged in Canada in May 1919; sold with copied service papers.

George Burn, brother of the above, was born in Kelso, Roxburghshire, on 3 February 1891. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted in the 194th Battalion at Edmonton in March 1916 but was discharged as being medically unfit a few days later. However, he re-enlisted in the 194th Battalion that May 1916 and was with his brother when ordered to France in April 1917. Killed in action on 5 October 1917, the relevant casualty report stated, ‘While in an advanced post in the Lens Sector with a Lewis Gun Crew, about 7.50 p.m. on 5 October 1917, he was instantly killed by concussion, caused by the explosion of an enemy shell’. Buried in the Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France, he was son of Mrs. Margaret Burn, of 12003 87th Street, Edmonton, Alberta; sold with copied service papers.