Bernard Burbury

Medals are shown left to right, as per the bullet point list above.

Born in London in April 1884, Bernard Thornley Burbury joined The Yorkshire Regiment in April 1907. He retired as Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 March 1923.

During the First Word War, he served on the staff as Brigade Major, 71st Brigade, from 8 December 1915 to 27 June 1917, being twice Mentioned in Despatches and gaining the Military Cross.

Burbury was then on the General Staff of the 40th Division and 5th Corps from 29 June 1917 to 27 August 1918. He was in command of the 2nd Battalion in September and October 1918, which included the fighting at Cambrai and on the Somme.

The 2nd Battalion War Diary recounts an incident in October 1918. “Crossing the canal de L’Escaut by bridges; Burbury, leading the Battalion, was half-way across the temporary bridge when it snapped in the centre. Colonel Burbury was successful in pulling himself up on the far side where it had broken, having a very narrow escape from falling into the canal.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Burbury died in March 1973 in Devon.