4773, Private, Herbert James BURSFORD. D.C.M.
Aged 37
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Born in Newmarket in 25th April, 1882 [Newmarket 3b:517] to William and Emma BURSFORD (née PLUMB) of Birds Alley, High Street, Newmarket. 1891 census...This census has them as BERESFORD. Herbert James [8] was at Bird's Alley ( near the present Lloyds Bank) with father William [37], stableman born in Atherstone, Warwick; his mother Emma [34],born Carlton Cambs; his brothers Thomas William [12] Ironmongers errand boy, and Harry George [10] and sisters Alice M [5] and Florence E [8 months]. Place of birth for father and mother are very different to those quoted in the census for the rest of the family in following years. 1901 census...Herbert had already enlisted in the Army and was fighting in South Africa. 1911 census...Herbert was in England in 1911, but after the census and purely as a member of the South African contingent for the Coronation. Brother of Albert and husband of Esther BURSFORD, 46 Park Avenue, East London South Africa. |
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Herbert enlisted in the RAMC on 13th February 1899, declaring previous service with the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. His name is BURFORD on Army records.
He was then 5' 4 6/10" (183.9 cm) tall and weighed 134 lbs (61 kg). He gave his father as Thomas William Bursford of 6 Andrews Yard, Newmarket as next of kin. In 1st December 1899 he was
posted to South Africa. 12th March 1901 he was made Lance Corporal and on 4th September 1901
he was mentioned in dispatches ( no emblem was awarded in those days). Made full Corporal on 1st January 1902 and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 15th January 1902 won at the Relief of Ladysmith.
Then, as Corporal, whilst serving in Cape Colony, South Africa, he paid �18 for his discharge on 4th December 1902.
He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal and the Kings South Africa Medal - Clasps for Cape Colony,Relief of Ladysmith,South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 Between the Boer Wars and WW1 he served in the Kaffararian Rifles for 11 years (at one time this was known as the 5th Infantry Regiment Herbert sailed from London on the SS Gaika, for East London, Sth Africa on July 7th 1911, this was returning after taking part as part of the Colonial Coronation Contingent on 22nd June 1911. The Coronation of King George V was not his only travel and sea voyages. He enlisted on 29th August 1915 at Polchefstroom, S.Africa. He was very much travelled, a brief spell in UK and then left Devonport on HMT "Saxonia" on 29th December 1915, arriving Alexandria 12th January 1916.Then on HT "Rodosto" to Mersa Matruh on 20th January 1916. He arrived back in Alexandria from Sollum on 6th April 1916 and six days later embarked on the "Megantic" for Marseilles where he arrived on 20th April. Eventually he ended up in N France but contracted pleurisy and was evacuated via Rouen to UK on "St Andrew" on 29th July 1916. After time in Tooting Military Hospital he was evacuated to South Africa on 26th December 1916 from Southampton on HMAT "Nestor", arriving Cape Town on 5th March 1917. He was awarded a military pension (Imperial Pensions Board - 15/9/1919 - case 4685). He died in Frere Hospital, East London, South Africa from pleurisy and fibrosis of the lungs. A summary of his WW1 service: South Africa.........28-8-1915 to 3-10-1915 England..............4-10-1915 to 29-12-1915 Egypt................30-12-1915 to 15-4-1916 France...............16-4-1916 to 30-7-1916 England..............31-7-1916 to 26-12-1916 Herbert's younger brother Albert was killed in 1917.. see here |
above , the Colonial Coronation Contingent at Duke of York School, London 1911
and below his attestation paper from the Defence Ministry in South Africa.
The South Africa War Graves Project is currently (August 2018) working on getting him recognised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
His death certificate giving the cause of death as the same that led to his discharge from the Army this should be successful.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
Herbert is buried in East London (Cambridge Cemetery), South Africa. plot 150: section 8B
Herbert is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St. Marys Church, Newmarket
and the South African Book of Remembrance