Harry Heather Burrows

Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church

Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment

Medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Serjeant 6262

Parents: Mary Ann and Colour Serjeant John Burrows

Marital status: Single

Home address: Gillingstool, Thornbury, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Army

Date of birth: 1886

Place of birth: Bombay, India

Date of death: 31/10/1914

Buried/Commemorated at: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 22 and 34.), Belgium

Age: 28

Further information:

Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board

Serjeant Harry Heather Burrows was the third child and youngest son of Serjeant John Burrows and his wife Mary Ann, from Ireland

The 1891 census shows the Burrows family living at Horfield Barracks in Bristol. Their five children, whose birth places reflect John's career in the army, were Caroline aged 12 born in Malta, Albert Edward aged 7 born in India, Harry Heather aged 4 born in India, John aged 2 and Mary Elizabeth under six months, both born in Horfield, Bristol

In the 1897 the Burrows family had moved to Thornbury. In the 1901 census John and Mary Ann Burrows are living at Gillingstool. John Burrows was working as an agricultural labourer and his wife was a 'Monthy Nurse'. Harry, aged 14 was recorded as an agricultural labourer

In the 1911 census Retired Serjeant John Burrows aged 64 was recorded as an agricultural labourer who had been married 37 years. Mary Ann Burrows aged 58 is described as a Certified Midwife. The record shows that the couple had had nine children of whom only four were still living

Harry, then a Lance Corporal, was with his regiment in barracks in Portsmouth. He gave his birthplace as Bombay. In addition to being a soldier, he is recorded as a musician, or bandsman

By 1914 Harry Heather had served as a serjeant with the Gloucestershire Regiment, with a service record of 13 years, eight of which he served in India. The last time Harry Burrows had come home on leave to Thornbury he had performed a cornet solo with the Baptist Band

Harry was Killed in Action at Gheluvelt, when as the battle raged at its height around Ypres, the Glosters were repeatedly called upon to participate in costly counter-attacks, he was 28 years old. Harry Burrows is listed on the Menin Gate at Ypres, he has no known grave. It is thought that he was the first man to fall, of those named on the Thornbury Memorial

John Burrows, Harry's younger brother served with the Glosters and was also Killed in Action at Ypres, the following year. Both names are remembered with honour at the Menin Gate Memorial and the Thornbury Memorial

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Thornbury Roots Website: Thornbury and District Museum Research Group, Forces War Records and CWGC