Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
PD. He was the son of William Bursnell, born on the 1st January 1843 in Whissendine, Rutland and his wife Mary Anne Bursnell (nee Holyland, married on the 4th February 1864 in St. Andrew’s Church, Whissendine), born in the 3rd quarter of 1841 in Syston, Leicestershire. John Thomas was born on the 29th May 1876 in Whissendine and was baptised on the 2nd July 1876 in St. Andrew’s Church, Whissendine, Rutland. John’s mother died on at Timber Hill, Melton Mowbray on the 2nd October 1880 following childbirth. In April 1881 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Timber Hill, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his widowed father, a railway servant and his siblings, William, a schoolboy, born on the 6th May 1871 and Edward Wright, a schoolboy, born in the 1st quarter of 1873, the latter two siblings were both born in Derbyshire, Ann Mary, a schoolgirl, born on the 15th October 1877 in Wymondham, Leicestershire and baptised on the 6th April 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Whissendine and Mary Ann, born on the 2nd October 1880, in Melton Mowbray and baptised on the 26th March 1882 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray, also residing in the family home was Mary Doubleday, a house keeper, born 1837 in Leicestershire. In April 1891 John was employed as a telegraph boy and was residing in the family home at 35, Pall Mall, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a railway labourer, his step mother, Sarah Anne Bursnell (nee Lewin/Brown, married on the 14th August 1881 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray), born 1844 in Upper Broughton, Nottinghamshire and his siblings, Edward a printer’s apprentice and Mary, also residing with the family was John’s cousin, Eliza Bursnell, born 1884 in Ashby, Leicestershire. William and Sarah had a daughter Lilian, born in 1884 in Melton Mowbray. John’s father died on the 24th February 1899 at 22, King Street, Melton Mowbray, aged 56. John also had a number of older siblings, these being, Thomas Holyland, born on the 23rd July 1864 in Whissendine and baptised on the 14th August 1864 in St. Andrew’s Church, Whissendine and who died on the 31st May 1865 in Somercotes, Derbyshire, William Bursnell, born in the 2nd quarter of 1866 in Somercotes and who died in the 2nd quarter of 1866 in Somercotes, Sarah Ann, born in the 3rd quarter of 1867 in Somercotes and who died in the 3rd quarter of 1867 in Somercotes. George James, born in the 1st qurter of 1869 in Somercotes and who died in the 2nd quarter of 1869 in Somercotes, John born in the 2nd quarter of 1870 in Somercotes and who died in the 2nd quarter of 1870 in Somercotes, Mary Lizzie, born on the 6th December 1874 in Oakham, Rutland and died on the 1st June 1878 in Whissendine and a younger sibling, George Arnold born on the 8th March 1879 in Whissendine and baptised on the 6th April 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Whissendine.
John enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 20th July 1898 in Melton, and was allotted the service number 28976. He gave his place of birth as Whissendine, near Oakham, Rutland and age as 21 years 1 month. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as labourer.
He confirmed that he had previously with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was discharged by purchase.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 21st July 1898 and recorded his apparent age as 21 years 1 month, that he was 5 feet 5½ inches in height, weighed 138 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown. He gave his religion as Church of England. Wesleyan, changed religion on the 1st August 1904.
He gave his next of kin as his father, William and mother Sarah Ann, older brothers William and Edward and younger brother George and sisters, Mary Ann and Annie, 23, King Street, Melton Mowbray.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 75 Field Artillery. Driver. 20/7/98.
Joined. At Colchester. 22/7/98.
Posted. Depot. Driver. 10/4/00.
Posted. 139 Brigade. Dvr. 16/10/00.
Absent without leave. Awarded 6 days detention & loss of pensionable pay. 17/1/01.
To Duty. Dvr. 23/1/01.
Posted. 49th Brigade. 11/2/02.
Extended service to 8 years with the Colours. 1/4/04.
Elects R. Warrant A.O.66 of 02. Granted Class II Service Pay @ 5d. 1/4/04.
Forfeited. 1st Service Pay. 16/6/04.
Forfeited. 1st Service Pay. 9/8/04.
Awarded. 3rd Class Certificate of Education. 24/6/04.
Posted 7th Depot. Dvr. 23/1/06.
Transferred. Army Reserve Section “B.” Dvr. 20/7/06.
Awaiting Trial. Felony. Stealing one pair of trousers. 10/9/08.
Tried and Convicted. Sentenced to 7 days hard labour. 5/10/08.
To Duty. Dvr. 12/10/08.
Discharged. 1st Period. 19/7/10.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 20/7/98 – 24/9/99. 1 year 67 days.
South Africa. 25/9/99 – 30/4/00. 218 days.
Home Service. 1/5/00 – 10/2/02. 1 year 286 days.
India. 11/2/02 – 19/2/06. 4 years 9 days.
Home Service. 20/2/06 – 19/7/10. 4 years 150 days.
Total Service. 12 years.
He was awarded the South Africa Medal with clasps “Belmont,” “Modder River” and “Paardeberg.”
John’s surviving service record amounts to a total of four pages, of which all four pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during his period of his military service.
John enlisted/attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on the 24th August 1914 in Melton Mowbray, and was allotted the service number 90554. He gave his place of birth as Whissendine, Rutland and age as 37 years 87 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as labourer. He gave his present address as 47, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray.
He confirmed that he had previously with the Royal Field Artillery for 8 years with 4 years in the Reserve and was time expired in 1910.
His medical examination took place in Melton Mowbray on the 24th August 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 37 years 87 days, that he was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 144 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 35½ and 37 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Presbyterian.
He gave his next of kin as his brother, Edward Wrght Bursnell, 4, Soho, Melton Mowbray. c/o Mrs. Dobney, 46, Mill Street, Melton Mowbray.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 24/8/14.
Posted. 1st Division Royal Field Reserve Artillery. Dvr. 24/8/14.
Posted. Royal Field Artillery. 3rd Reserve. Dvr. 2/9/14.
Embarked. To join Expeditionary Force, France. 14/9/14.
Posted. 39th Brigade. Dvr. 14/9/14.
Awarded. 21 days Field Punishment No.1. In the Field. 1/12/14.
Awarded. 28 days Field Punishment No.1 by Commanding Officer. 26/12/14.
To Duty. Dvr.
Tried by Field General Court Martial. Sentenced to 56 days Field Punishment No.1 and fined £1 for drunkenness. 9/1/15.
Admitted. To Hospital. Influenza. In the Field. 4/4/15.
Discharged. To Duty. In the Field. 8/4/15.
Awarded 5 days Field Punishment No.2. In the Field. 29/8/15.
Admitted. 1st Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 27/4/16
Admitted. 9th General Hospital, Rouen I.C.T. Forearm. 29/4/16.
Transferred. Convalescent Depot, Rouen. 5/5/16.
Discharged. Convalescent Depot, Rouen. 18/5/16.
Joined. 2nd Garrison Brigade Depot, Havre. 19/5/16.
Posted. 9th Divisional Ammunition Column. In the Field. 5/7/16.
Posted. “B” 51st Brigade Royal Field Artillery. In the Field. 5/4/17.
Leave to the United Kingdom with ration allowance. 18/7/17 – 28/7/17.
War Pay. Increased to 4d on completion of 4 years service. 24/8/18.
Leave to United Kingdom via Calais. Entitled to 14 days ration allowance. 4/9/18 – 18/9/18.
Admitted. 89th Field Ambulance. Sprained ankle left fracture. In the Field. 26/9/18
Admitted. 36th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 27/9/18.
Admitted. ? General Hospital, Calais. 28/9/18.
Admitted. Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich. Simple fracture of left malleolus. 1/10/18 – 22/10/18.
Transferred. Convent Hospital, Norwich. 22/10/18 – 19/12/18.
Admitted. Wicklow Lodge Hospital, Melton Mowbray. 9/1/19.
Posted. 4th “B” Reserve Brigade. Dvr. 9/1/19.
Posted. 3rd “A” Reserve Brigade. 28/3/19.
Admitted. 5th Northern General Hospital. Diagnosed aortic regurgitation. Irregular pyrexia associated with bronchitis, temperature, but considerably better by 3.3.19.
Diagnosed. Dypnosea, condition serious and rapidly worsening. 29/3/19.
Died in the 5th Northern General Hospital, Leicester. Cause: 1. Aortic Regurgitation: bronchitis. 2. Cardiac failure. 1/4/19.
Interred. Public Cemetery, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Grave No. 2140. 5/4/19.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 24/8/14 – 13/9/14. 21 days.
France. 14/9/14 – 3/9/17. 3 years 355 days.
Furlough. 4/9/18 - 18/9/18. 15 days.
France. 19/9/18 – 30/9/18. 12 days.
Home. 1/10/18 – 1/4/19. 183 days.
Total Service. 4 years 221 days.
He was awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s surviving service record amounts to a total of forty pages, of which seventeen pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.