Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Colour Sergeant, later Lieutenant and Quarter Master, A. Burns, Scots Guards, who was ordained after the war, and affectionately known as ‘The Guardsman Curate’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (1124. Corpl: A. Burns. Scots: Gds.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1124 Serjt: A. Burns. Scots Guards); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1124 C. Sjt: A. Burns. S. G.) mounted for display, contact marks, therefore good fine or better (3) £280-£320

Arthur Burns was born in Dublin in October 1877, and attested for the Corps of Household Cavalry at Glasgow in August 1896. He almost immediately transferred to the Scots Guards, and advanced to Lance-Corporal in December 1897. Burns served with the Regiment in South Africa, March 1900 - October 1902. He advanced to Colour Sergeant in April 1908, and was attached as Acting Sergeant Major to the Inns of Court O.T.C., April 1914 - July 1917 (Brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war, London Gazette 24 February 1917).

Burns rejoined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Scots Guards, as Warrant Officer Class II in July 1917. He served as Acting Regimental Sergeant Major attached School of Instruction for Adjutants, Cambridge, from February 1918. Burns was commissioned Lieutenant and Quarter Master, 25 April 1918, having served 21 years and 264 days in the ranks.

In a letter written to Field Marshal Lord Methuen, dated 18 January 1928, Burns wrote:

‘Knowing your Lordship’s great interest in all matters relating to the Regiment, I thought you would like to know that an old soldier has established a record....

Your Lordship may remember distributing to patients in Hospital at Malta, copies of my book “Corporal Astley’s Temptation” written and published when I was Q.M. Sergt. at Caterham.

I am the only Clergyman entitled to wear the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal of the Regular Army, and, so far as I can ascertain, the only one in receipt of a full pension for Service in the ranks....’

Further detail of Burns’ post-war career is added by the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 14 January 1929:

‘... the Rev. Arthur Burns, senior curate attached to the Parish Church staff, had accepted the living of St. Bartholomew’s, Carbrook, which had been offered to him by the trustees.

“The Guardsman Curate” as he is often called came to Rotherham from Heeley little over two years ago. He has spent the great part of his life in the army... during a portion of that time he was Sergeant Orderly to His Majesty King Edward VII... During his Army career he spent considerable time in temperance work among the troops, and when he left he became Diocesean Organising Secretary to the Church of England Temperance Society in the Diocese of Sheffield. He was ordained in Sheffield Cathedral in 1924 when still carrying out those duties. He has been very popular at Rotherham. His new parish is one of about 13,000 inhabitants...’

Reverend Burns remained as Vicar of St. Bartholomew’s until 1942, when he took the living of Woodhouse. He died in Leeds in 1951.

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