Name

Newspaper Article.

Description

Newspaper article relating to the death of Private Alexander Gibson Burns.

Life Story

Name: Alexander Gibson Burns.

Service Number: 17488.

Rank: Private.

Battalion: 5th Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Born: 19th January 1893, Shankill, Belfast.

Died: 15th August 1915.

Address: 75 Emerson Street, Belfast

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Alexander Gibson Burns, son of John and Rachel Burns, lived at 75 Emerson Street, Shankill Road, Belfast.

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Alexander joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

He was posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 11th July 1915,

Alexander Private in B Company 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was Killed In Action on the 15th August 1915 aged 22 years.

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A local newspaper states

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Private Alexander Gibson Burns (17488), 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has been killed at the Dardanelles. He enlisted in the Inniskillings soon after the outbreak of war, and fell in action gallantly defending a trench won from the Turks. Previous to his enlistment the late Private Burns worked at Mackies Foundry, Springfield Road. He has two brothers still serving, one in the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the other in the R.A.M.C. A third brother is employed in a munitions factory in England. Deceased lived at 75 Emerson Street, Belfast

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Another newspaper states

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Private Alexander Gibson Burns, 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action at the Dardanelles on August 15. Deceased was a brother of John Burns, of 75 Emerson Street, Belfast, now serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Dublin, and Private Robert Burns, Royal Army Medical Corps

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His British Army WW1 Index Card and Medal Rolls show Alexander's date of death as 15/9/1915, rather than 15/8/1915, however his Service Number, Regiment and Battalion are correct.

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Alexander's Soldiers Effects were left to his sister in law Mary Burns.

His signed Will states the following, this is to certify in the case of my death where all my property to my Sister in law Mrs Burns 75 Emerson Street, Belfast

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Alexander received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star.

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He is Remembered at Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

To Remember Is To Honour

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