Description
Queen’s Mediterranean Medal, 8238 Private James Burns, Yorkshire Light Infantry, who served in Malta aged 17 during the Boer War period.
Officially impressed: “8238 Pte J. Burns. Yorks: L.I.”
Private James Burns was a 17 year old Militia volunteer when he was mobilised and served in Malta, from 19th November 1901 until 2nd April 1902 with the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Light Infantry.
James Burns was born circa 1884-5 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.
He was born there and raised by his father Thomas Burns, a Rag Grinder in a Rag Mill, his mother Julia Burns was also working in the Rag Mill as a Rag Sorter.
According to his Militia Enlistment Records, James had worked the horrific job of “Coal Hurrier” an unpleasant job typically done by a Child or Woman who transported coal that had been mined in the local Yorkshire coal mines.
The Hurrier, who was typically a child as they would have to haul a wagon full of coal along tiny roadways as small as 16 inches (0.4m) in height, over 12 hour shifts.
As it was too expensive to light the whole mine, they would be instead given a small candle to light the way, they also had to work naked due to the intense heat and the narrow tunnels could catch easily on clothing.
With new laws in 1870 it became compulsory for children between 5 and 13 to be educated, he was likely a Coal Hurrier since about 13-14, the 1901 census records 17 year old James Burns as now working as a Rag Grinder at a Rag Mill.
By 17 he was outgrowing the Coal Tunnells and moved on to working with his rather at the Rag Mill.
In 1902, a book included Rag Grinding as amonst the countries most dangerous trades, with little health and safety regulations they would have to feed rags into a machine known as the “Devil” which would grind them into powder, the companies involved attempted to play down the effects of the work, but the dust produced would commonly cause a disease known as “Shoddy Fever”, they had no filtration masks so wearing a cloth over their mouth was the best protection offered.
During the Boer War as 17 years and 4 months old James signed up locally at Dewsbury on 26th August 1901 for service with the 3rd Bn Yorkshire Light Infantry Militia.
He was embodied on 18th October 1901 and posted to Malta.
He was disembodied upon return to England on 2nd April 1902, all before his 18th Birthday.
On 2nd May 1902 he received his special war gratuity.
Soon afterwards on 1st September 1902, he was however discharged from the Militia, “In consequence of his misconduct”.
