Description
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EDVII, Colour Sergeant Alfred Ernest Burrows, Royal Fusiliers, and Rifle Brigade, fought in Boer War and Tochi Valley 1897.
Cornwall Advertiser, 19th July 1912:
“DEATH OF AN OLD FALMOTHIAN –
We regret to record the death, which occurred on Friday, 12th inst, at Shaftesbury Street, London, The Headquarters of the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, of which he was Instructor, of Mr Alfred Ernest Burrows, Late Colour Sergeant in the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade.
Mr Burrows who passed away at the comparatively early age of 45 years, was born at Falmouth and lived there until he was 18 years of age, when he came to London, where he was for some years engaged in the drapery trade.
He subsequently joined the Army, and during a period of 25 years he saw considerable service in India, and it is of interest to note that he was one of the few survivors of the Tochi Valley Expedition.
He was also on active service in the Boer War, and was the possessor of several medals.
The funeral which took place on Tuesday at St Pancras Cemetery, served to demonstrate the esteem in which the deceased was held by those with whom he was brought into contact.
Full Military Honours were accorded by the battalion with which the deceased had been in his latter days identified as Instructor, and from the residence to the Parish Church, the Band played The Dead March in Saul, and whilst the mourners were entering the sacred edifice they rendered ‘Nearer, my God, to Three.’
The Coffin was borne on a gun carriage draped with the Union Jack. The service at the church was fully choral, and was conducted here and at the graveside by the Rev J. Brooke-Hart, the Chaplain to the 4th Volunteer batt of the Royal Fusiliers…
…Most of the Officers of the 4th battalion as well as some 250 men, in addition to many of the deceased’s old comrades in the Rifle Brigade and the Army Service Corps, attended to pay their last tribute of respect, and their presence, coupled with the large number of floral tributes sent, testified to the respect and esteem in which the deceased was held.
At the graveside the last Military Rites were rendered by a squad of the 4th battalion.
Mrs Burros, the widow, is also a Falmothian. Mrs Burrows, and was a Miss Turner, a daughter of the late Mr William Turner, of High Street.
The whole of the Military Arrangements were efficiently carried out by Sergeant Major Tomsett, a Friend and Comrade of the deceased of 25 years standing.”
Officially impressed: “10385 C. Sergt. A.E. Burrows. Rl Fus.”
Awarded in October 1906 with Gratuity, Appendix to Army Order 240.
With copy service papers.
Discharged on 12th February 1909, from the Royal Fusiliers and as a member of the Permanent Staff of the 4th Battalion City of London Regiment, Territorial Force.
He was 42 years old and had done over 21 years of service.
Conduct was said to have been “Exemplary”
He was said to be upon discharge: “A Good Clerk, Reliable, Painstaking Willing and Industrious. He will make an excellent Caretaker.
Medals earned:
“Tochi Valley Medal 1897, clasp Punjab Frontier.
SA Medal, clasps CC, OFS and SA 1902.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, 13/2/06 With Gratuity £5.”
Tochi Valley medal refers to the India General Service Medal.
Saw following service:
Home, 13th Feb 1888 – 31st Dec 1888
India, 1st Jany 1889 – 29th Dec 1898
Home, 30th Dec 1898 – 20th Dec 1901
South Africa, 31st Dec 1901 – 3rd Oct 1902
Home, 4th Oct 1902 – 12th Feb 1909.
Total Service 21 years 32 days.
Alfred Ernest Burrows was born circa 1866 in Falmouth, Cornwall.
His father was a Seaman and his mother Elizabeth a “Seaman’s Wife”. They lived in Budock, during the 1871 Census where his father was away at sea.
Before joining the Army aged 15 he was an Apprentice to a Draper.
Before going out to War in South Africa, he was entered on the 1901 Census as a Sergeant in the Rifle Brigade, serving as a Hospital Attendant at Haslar Hospital in Hampshire.
West Briton and Cornwall Advertisers 25th July 1912, records his death, sadly he did not have long to enjoy retirement:
“DEATHS – BURROWS – In London on July 12th, Alfred Ernest Burrows, formerly of Falmouth, Late Colour Sergeant in the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, aged 45.”
