Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Updates for Fusilier Joseph Burns
Date Information
09/12/2020 The cheerful and pleasant ways
09/12/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 8th May 1943:
09/12/2020
09/12/2020 Ever lovingly remembered by his mother, sisters and brothers, Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown
09/12/2020 ‘Gone from us his smiling face
09/12/2020 The heart that won so many friends
09/12/2020 In bygone happy days
09/12/2020 Yet again we hope to meet him
09/12/2020 When days of life are fled
09/12/2020 And in heaven we hope to greet him
09/12/2020 Where no farewell tears are shed.’
09/12/2020 BURNS – In sad and loving memory of my dear son, Joseph Burns, Royal Irish Fusiliers, killed in action in May 1940.
21/09/2020 We shall never lose sweet memories
21/09/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 19th May 1945: Roll of Honour
21/09/2020
21/09/2020 BURNS – In ever loving memory of my dear son, Joseph Burns, killed in action May 1940, Royal Irish Fusiliers
21/09/2020 And his voice we cannot hear
21/09/2020 Of the one we loved so dear.’
21/09/2020 Ever lovingly remembered by his mother, sisters and brothers. Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown.
21/09/2020 ‘Though his smile has gone forever
03/07/2020 Always remembered by his mother, sisters and brothers, Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown.
03/07/2020 Never to part again.’
03/07/2020 To clasp his hand in that heavenly land,
03/07/2020 Someday, we know not when,
03/07/2020 ‘Someday we hope to meet again
03/07/2020 BURNS – In sad and loving memory of my dear son, Joseph Burns, Irish Fusiliers, killed in action May 1940.
03/07/2020
03/07/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 20th May 1944: In Memorial
15/01/2020 ‘Good was his heart, his friendship true,
15/01/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd May 1942:
15/01/2020 BURNS – In loving memory of my dear son, Joseph Burns, Royal Irish Fusiliers, killed in action May 1940.
15/01/2020 To a beautiful life came a sudden end,
15/01/2020 He died as he lived, everyone’s friend.’
15/01/2020
15/01/2020 Ever remembered by his mother, sisters and brothers. Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown.
15/01/2020 Respected and loved by all he knew;
22/12/2019 The Burns family wish to express their sincere thanks to all who sympathised with them in their bereavement, and to the many kind friends who made personal calls. This is an acknowledgment of their gratitude in a time of sorrow. Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown.
22/12/2019 BURNS – 29th May 1940, killed in action with the British Expeditionary Force, Fusiliers Joseph Burns, Royal Irish Fusiliers, fourth son of Mrs Margaret Burns of Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown.
22/12/2019
22/12/2019 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 29th June 1940: Roll of Honour
20/12/2019 Mrs Burns, of Morgan’s Hill Road, Cookstown, has been notified that her son, Private Joseph Burns, Royal Irish Fusiliers, was killed in action on Flanders.
20/12/2019 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 22nd June 1940:
20/12/2019 Mrs W Irvine, of ex-Soldier’s Cottages, Tullyhogue, has been notified by the Air Ministry that her eldest son, Aircraftman (1st Class) William C Irvine, was killed on 11th June when the aircraft, of which he was wireless operator, crashed at the aerodrome when taking off. He was 19 years of age.
20/12/2019
15/01/2019 Fusiliers Joseph Burns is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium. The inscription on his grave reads COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST
15/01/2019 Joseph was born in Cookstown on 7th July 1910 (tbc). Joseph the sixth of at least six children.
15/01/2019 Known family: John Burns, Margaret Burns, Thomas Burns (born 22nd December 1897), John Burns (born 4th April 1900), William Burns (born 1st July 1902), Emma Burns (born 11th April 1905), Margaret Burns (born 16th December 1907), Joseph Burns (born 7th July 1910).
15/01/2019 The report below suggests that two brothers, Thomas and John, served in World War One.
15/01/2019 All these birth dates are subject to correction. It’s speculated that the transcription was difficult, resulting in the mother’s maiden name differing from birth to birth. These are best guesses.
15/01/2019 Joseph Burns was the son of John and Margaret Burns. John Burns and Margaret Harvey were married on 13th February 1897 in the district of Cookstown.
15/01/2019 The 1911 census Joseph as a baby, living with the family at house 7 in Cookstown Rural, County Tyrone. John Burns was a labourer.
15/01/2019 It seems the family lived in the Morgan’s Hill (Road) area of Cookstown.
15/01/2019 In May 1940, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers were acting as part of the rear-guard before the retreat to Dunkirk and were holding a 5,000 yard front, North East of Ninove near the River Dendre, in Belgium.
15/01/2019 It is believed that Fusilier Joseph Burns was killed in action on Sunday 19th May 1940 when the Luftwaffe carried out a bombing and strafing attack on the 1st Battalion’s positions.
15/01/2019 Fusiliers Joseph Burns is commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph.
15/01/2019 The CWGC record Fusiliers Joseph Burns as the son of John and Margaret Burns of Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
15/01/2019 From an undated Mid-Ulster Mail
15/01/2019 Submitted by his family, Morgan’s Hill Road Cookstown
15/01/2019 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 4th May 1918:
15/01/2019 Mr John Burns, Morgan’s Hill, Cookstown, has received a post card from his son, Private Thomas Burns, of the Ulster Division, that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. His brother John is serving also.
15/01/2019
15/01/2019
15/01/2019
30/12/2015 "We smile with the world, but never forget
30/12/2015 In our garden of memories, you live with us yet."
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