More Uncertainty for Parents of 8th Bedfordshire Regiment Soldiers

Wednesday 24th May 1916: Following on from yesterday’s article about John Marlow we hear today about Mr and Mrs George Burr of Holwell [Hertfordshire] who are naturally very anxious as to the fate of two of their sons – Private Stanley Thomas Burr, aged 20 and Hedley Burr, aged 19, both of the Bedfordshire Regiment – whom the War Office have reported as missing since the gallant charge on 19th April by the Bedfords. A noble record of sacrifice is that of the Burr family. There are six sons in the Army, and in addition to the two who are missing, two others are at the Front – Sidney, Army Veterinary Corps, aged 21 and Alfred William, aged 17, who is also in the Bedfordshire Regiment. Two other sons are in England – Sergeant Herbert Burr, aged 26, who is married and an instructor at Ramsey and Arthur, aged 23, who is in the Herts Yeomanry. The sons worked for Mr Henry Gurney, farmer, the father still being in Mr Gurney’s employ(1)

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 19th May 1916

(1) Stanley Thomas was killed in action on 20th April 1916, presumably as the fighting after the German attack on the evening of 19th was coming to an end. Hedley seems to have been taken prisoner as he died on 14th November 1918 (three days after the Armistice) and is buried at Cologne Southern Cemetery. Their army numbers were, respectively, 22017 and 22013.