Friday 14 April 2017 marks 100 years to the day that Osmington resident Wilfred George Burden died. He was a casualty of the First World War.
He was the only first world war soldier to be buried in the village churchyard at St Osmunds.
Osmington history representative Lucy Wyman explained,
“Wilfred was 20 years old when he died. He was mortally injured and sadly succumbed to his injuries at Bradford war hospital. He served as a private in the 1st Wiltshire regiment.
He was the son of John and Elizabeth Burden.
We at Osmington history are keen to help keep his memory alive and have identified where Wilfred was laid to rest in order that local residents can pay their respects to him on the 100th anniversary.
We would like to contact living relatives who may be able to provide photos of him so that we can bring his story back to life.
When we talk about social history it helps people to grasp how great a sacrifice was made when they hear personal stories or see images of those involved.
Osmington is a small village and at the time Wilfred lived here there were 315 residents, 163 men and 152 women, so everyone in the village would have known each other. He was born and raised in the village.
There is a brass plaque inside the church which commemorates the eleven men from the village who were killed during the conflict. They were, Wilfred Burden, Charles Dawe, Geoffrey Dawe, William Foot, Percy Hansford, Arthur Northover, William Northover, Vernon Pond, Walter Riggs, William Riggs and George Thomas.
We hope to develop all the stories of the war soldiers over the coming months and if any relatives have photos or stories they would like to share with us, we would be very happy to share them”.
Please contact lucy@osmington-
Wilfred George Burden was born in Osmington in July 1896.
ReplyDeleteHe died on 14 April 1917 in Bradford War hospital (St Luke's) from his injuries.
He was buried in St Osmunds churchyard next to his father on 18 April 1917; he was 20 years old.
Wilfred was the second born son of John William Burden (1866-1913) and Elizabeth Emily Ann Baggs (1868-1955).
In the 1911 census Wilfred was living at Upton farm with his parents and brothers John (born 1892), Alfred Edward(born 1907), Maurice Charlie (born 1907) and sisters Annie Emily 'Dorothy' (born 1893), Eva Katherine (born 1899), Annie (born 1902).
Wilfred's father John was a shepherd and farm hand and was originally from Portesham.
His mother Elizabeth was from two well-known Osmington families. Her parents were William Baggs (1835-1899) and Ann Maria Notley (1844-1915).