Burns, George
Rifleman
No. 18/551, ‘D’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 20)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
Bangor and District War Memorial
Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque
Comrades of the Great War (Bangor Branch) Album in North Down Museum
Conlig Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
George Burns was born on 29 December 1895 in the townland of Ballyvernot, Clandeboye and he was the elder son of Robert John and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Burns (nee Morrison) who were married on 30 April 1892 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards. Robert John Burns from the townland of Killarn, Newtownards was a son of John Burns, a labourer. Elizabeth Morrison from the townland of Ballyminetragh, Groomsport was a daughter of William Morrison, a labourer.
The Burns family lived in Ballyskeagh, Ballyvernot and Conlig.
Robert John Burns was an agricultural labourer and he and Lizzie had three children:
Elizabeth Mahaffy (Lillie, born 6 October 1893 in Ballyskeagh)
George (born 29 December 1895 in Ballyvernot)
Allen (born 3 November 1898 in Conlig)
Before the First World War, George Burns worked as an apprentice bricklayer.
George Burns enlisted at Clandeboye and he served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman George Burns (No. 18/551) was 20 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and he has no known grave.
Rifleman George Burns (No. 18/551) is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Bangor and District War Memorial; on the Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque; in the Comrades of the Great War (Bangor Branch) Album in North Down Museum and in Conlig Presbyterian Church.