William Francis Burman
Sergeant, 16th Battalion. The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
- Register No.
- 152 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 16th Battalion. The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) (register: Prince Consort's Own (Rifle Brigade)) all Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 30th August 1897 at Stepney, London
- Died
- 23rd October 1974 at Cromer, Norfolk
- Memorial / grave
- the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
- Medal held by
- the Imperial War Museum
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BURMAN, William Francis. (reg No. 152)
Sergeant 16th Battalion. The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own).
London Gazetted on 26th November 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Imperial War Museum.
Born on 30th August 1897 at Stepney, London.
Died on 23rd October 1974 at Cromer, Norfolk.
Memorial at the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral.
Citation read: On 20th September, 1917 south-east of Ypres, Belgium, when the advance of his company was held up by machine-gun on at point-blank range, Sergeant Burman shouted to the man next to him to wait a few minutes and going forward to what seems certain death killed the enemy Gunner and carried a gun to the company's objective where he used it with great effect. 15 minutes later it was seen that about 40 of the enemy were enfilading the Battalion on the right. Sergeant Burman and two others ran and got behind them, killing six and capturing two officers and 29 other ranks.
BURSLEM, Nathaniel. (Reg. No.153.) Lieutenant 67th Regiment (later The Royal Hampshire Regiment.)
London Gazetted on 13th August 1861 VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Hampshire Regimental Museum.
Born on 2nd February 1838 at Limerick, Ireland Died in 1865 by drowning in the River Thames in New Zealand.
Memorial Not known.
Citation reads: On 21 August 1860 at the Taku Forts, China, Lieutenant Burslem and a Private (Reg No 715. Thos LANE) of his regiment displayed great gallantry in swimming the ditches of the North Taku Fort and attempting, during the assault and before an entrance had been effected by anyone, to enlarge an opening in the wall, through which they eventually entered. In doing so they were both severely wounded.
Additional information: On 12th February 1858 Burslem joined the Army as an Ensign in the 67th Foot. He served throughout the China Campaign. He was the first Englishman to enter the fort at the storming of the Taku Fort and was wounded in three places. He was mentioned in Despatches. Lieutenant Burslem was also in attendance at the surrender of Pekin. He became a Captain on the 20th November 1860 and changed to the 60th Rifles. He sold his Commission in 1864 and retired.
Alf's notes on his life
Citation read: On 20th September, 1917 south-east of Ypres, Belgium, when the advance of his company was held up by machine-gun on at point-blank range, Sergeant Burman shouted to the man next to him to wait a few minutes and going forward to what seems certain death killed the enemy Gunner and carried a gun to the company's objective where he used it with great effect. 15 minutes later it was seen that about 40 of the enemy were enfilading the Battalion on the right. Sergeant Burman and two others ran and got behind them, killing six and capturing two officers and 29 other ranks. BURSLEM, Nathaniel. (Reg. No.153.) Lieutenant 67th Regiment (later The Royal Hampshire Regiment.) London Gazetted on 13th August 1861 VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Hampshire Regimental Museum. Born on 2nd February 1838 at Limerick, Ireland Died in 1865 by drowning in the River Thames in New Zealand. Memorial Not known. Citation reads: On 21 August 1860 at the Taku Forts, China, Lieutenant Burslem and a Private (Reg No 715. Thos LANE) of his regiment displayed great gallantry in swimming the ditches of the North Taku Fort and attempting, during the assault and before an entrance had been effected by anyone, to enlarge an opening in the wall, through which they eventually entered. In doing so they were both severely wounded.
Additional information
On 12th February 1858 Burslem joined the Army as an Ensign in the 67th Foot. He served throughout the China Campaign. He was the first Englishman to enter the fort at the storming of the Taku Fort and was wounded in three places. He was mentioned in Despatches. Lieutenant Burslem was also in attendance at the surrender of Pekin. He became a Captain on the 20th November 1860 and changed to the 60th Rifles. He sold his Commission in 1864 and retired.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
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