Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1914 ‘posthumous’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Pioneer G. P. Burns, 1st Signal Company, Royal Engineers, who died of wounds on the Western Front in October 1914

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (24070 Pnr: G. P. Burns. 1/S.Co. R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (24070 Pnr: G. [sic] Burns. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (24070 Pnr. G. P. Burns. R.E.) generally good very fine (4) £2,400-£2,800

D.C.M. London Gazette 23 June 1915; citation published 30 June 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in constantly volunteering to carry messages and repair lines under heavy fire. On 31st October, 1914 in carrying a message under heavy fire, when means of communication had nearly ceased, he was killed.’

George Patrick Burns was born in Ancoats, Lancashire. He served during the Great War with the 1st Signal Company, Royal Engineers in the French theatre of war from 17 August 1914. The unit war diary records that they were 5km east of Hooge on 31 October 1914. It also records, like the above citation, that Burns was killed that day. This is at variance with Soldiers Died in the Great War, which gives Burns as ‘died of wounds, 30 October 1914’, CWGC also gives this date for his death. He is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Belgium.

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