Three: Private E. Burls, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, who was killed in action at the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (7756 Pte. E. Burls. 2/Essex R.) in named card box of issue with outer envelope addressed to ‘Mrs M. M. Burls, Cadhay Dairy, Ottery St. Mary’s, Devon’; British War and Victory Medals (7756 Pte. E. Burls. Essex R.) both in named card boxes of issue and outer OHMS envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs M. M. Burls, 34 Mill St., Ottery St. Mary, Devon.’; Memorial Plaque (Ernest Burls) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card envelope and OHMS outer envelope similarly addressed, virtually mint state (4) £260-£300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

View
Collection

Ernest Burls was born in 1886 at Great Easton, Dunmow, Essex and attested for the Essex Regiment at Braintree, Essex. He served with A Company of the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Le Havre, France on 24 August 1914 and entraining the same night for Bertry near Le Cateau, arriving on 25 August. The battalion then marched to Prayelle from where A and B Companies moved to Longsart.

The enemy attacked the A and B Company positions on Longsart Ridge, near Esnes on 26 August and, despite support from C and D Companies, a withdrawal was ordered and the Battalion fell back to positions on the Hancourt-Esnes Road. Here they came under shell fire and later in the day retired via Selvigny to Vendhuille having suffered Captain Vandeleur and Lieutenant Northey killed, Lieutenant Round mortally wounded, 90 other ranks killed, 1 officer and 40 other ranks wounded and 98 missing.

Private Burls was among those missing, presumed dead and was later officially recorded as having died on 26 August 1914.
He was the son of Charles and Sarah Burls, of Parsonage Downs, Dunmow, Essex and the husband of Maud Mary Burls, of 9, Cornhill, Ottery St. Mary, Devon. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France and the Great Easton and Tilty War Memorial, Essex.