Burns, David (209)

Place of Birth: West Melbourne, VIC

Age: 24 years 2 months

Enlistment Details: Saturday, 15 August 1914 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 209            view online service record

Address:
38 Nelson Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
W J Desmond (friend)
38 Nelson Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Monday, 19 October 1914
Ship: HMAT Hororata A20
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 7th Infantry Battalion

Fate:
DOW: Monday, 7 June 1915
Place: Gallipoli

Private, 7 Infantry, died of wounds, 7 June, 1916, Gallipoli, aged 47, commemorated Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli.

Father: Charles BURNS, twin brother, 2583, Charles BURNS, died of disease, Ceylon, 13 May 1919. Born West Melbourne, educated St Joseph’s RC, Surrey Hills. He enlisted as a 24-year-old driver giving a friend, W J Desmond, 38 Nelson Street as next of kin although his father was alive, alternatively listed at Tullamarine or Essendon. Circulars for the twins were prepared by AWM staff and list the place of association as Port Melbourne – other then latter reference, there is nothing to suggest why. David Burns died on board the hospital Ship Sicilia whilst being invalided back to Egypt.

Additional research by Brian Membrey

The flag at the Port Melbourne Town Hall was flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to the memory of late Privates D Burns and J Marshall.

1915 ‘ELECTRIC SPARKS.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 10 July, p. 3, viewed 30 June, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91166919

1916 ‘Two Soldiers Die Intestate.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 20 May, p. 3. , viewed 01 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91167270