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Date: |
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Description: | 20 SEP. 1917
P.649 SJT W. F. BURMAN. / 16TH BN RIFLE BRIGADE
Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant W F Burman, 16th (Service) battalion (St. Pancras), The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own).
On 20 September 1917, he took part in his battalion's attack on German positions between Shrewsbury Forest and Bulgar Wood, southeast of the Menin Road, during the Third Battle of Ypres.
Medal citation: (Fourth Supplement ot the London Gazette, 26 November 1917) 'No. P.649 Sjt. William Francis Burman, Rif. Brig. (Stepney, E.). For most conspicuous bravery when the advance of his Company in attack was held up by an enemy machine gun firing at point blank range. He shouted to the men next to him to wait a few minutes, and going forward alone to what seemed certain death, killed the enemy gunner and carried the gunto the Company's objective, where he subsequently used it with great effect. By this exceptionally gallant deed the progress of the attack was assured. About 15 minutes later it was observed that the battalion on the right was being impeded by a party of about 40 of the enemy, who were enfilading them. Sjt. Burman with two others ran forward and got behind the enemy, killing 6 and capturing 2 officers and 29 other ranks.
Burman was just twenty years of age at the date of the action for which he received the VC.
Biographical note (recipient): Sergeant W F Burman VC 16th (Service) battalion (St. Pancras), The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
William Francis Burman (30 August 1897 - 23 October 1974) was born and brought up in Stepney, London. He volunteered for the army in March 1915 aged seventeen. On 20 September 1917, he took part in his battalion's attack on German positions between Shrewsbury Forest and Bulgar Wood, southeast of the Menin Road, during the Third Battle of Ypres. When his company was held up by a German machine-gun firing at point-blank range, Burman advanced alone to what seemed certain death, killed the German machine-gunner and carried the weapon on to the company's objective, where he used it to great effect. Fifteen minutes later, seeing that a neighbouring battalion was being impeded by enfilade fire from some forty Germans, Burman, with two others, ran forward and outflanked the enemy party, killing six and capturing two officers and twenty-nine other ranks. For his conspicuous bravery, Burman was awarded the Victoria Cross, the announcement appeared in the London Gazette of 26 November 1917. Burman was just twenty years of age at the date of the action for which he received the VC. On demobilisation, Burman worked as a chauffeur - for many years he was chauffeur to the Managing Director of 'The Daily Mirror'. He died, aged 77 in 1974, at the Royal British Legion Home at Cromer, Norfolk. In addition to the VC and other medals (Ref: OMD 3882-3887) the Museum also holds a gold pocket watch presented by the Borough of St. Pancras (Ref: EPH 1680) and a presentation bayonet and scabbard given to Burman by an anonymous donor to mark the award of the VC (Ref: WEA 2066).
cross patté (described in the Royal Warrant as a 'Maltese cross of bronze') having at its centre a crown surmounted by 'lion gardant'; beneath the crown an ornamentally draped scroll bearing the motto: 'FOR VALOUR'. Raised borders outline the shape of the cross. The plain reverse bears a central circle (with raised edge) to enclose the date of the act of gallantry. The suspension bar comprises a straight laurelled bar with integral 'V' lug; the plain reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with details of the recipient. The 1½-inch wide ribbon is crimson. The presence of a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award.
[Note: originally the ribbon was dark blue for Royal Navy recipients and crimson (described as 'red' in the Warrants) for the Army. After the formation of the Royal Air Force (1 April 1918) the crimson ribbon (sometimes described as 'claret', 'maroon' or 'dark red', was adopted for all recipients. When present, a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award.] | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Hancocks & Co, London | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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