CRICH PARISH

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)

2820 & 200711

5th Battalion

Photos courtesy Crich Heritage Partnership

Biography
William was born in 1894 at Ashby de la Launde, Lincolnshire the son of William and Mary Jane Burr. He came to Crich to work for Mrs Vaughan Taylor at the “Mount” in Crich. On the original Roll of Honour in St Mary’s Church, Crich he is marked as “killed in action”. This is an error, in fact he had been taken as a prisoner-of-war.
William enlisted aged twenty 20th October 1914 at Belper. He embarked from Southampton for Rouen on 25th June 1915 and was reported missing in the field on 8th July 1916. In October 1916 he was a prisoner of war at camp K33, Munster, Germany. Whilst engaged in blasting in a mine a stone fell on his left knee. He reported sick but was not allowed to see a doctor and he continued at work until sent to hospital at Munster. Four months later he was working in a power station at Duisburg. Eventually, on 23rd November 1916, his knee was operated on at a Munster hospital. William served in France for thirteen months and was a prisoner of war in Germany for two years four months. He was demobilised at Grantham on 19th February 1919 with a 20% disability allowance due to his knee injury. He was discharged, single, aged twenty-five, and awarded a Silver War Badge in 1919. On demob he returned to Lincolnshire, his birth place.

Crich voluteers October 1914 –

Ian P. Macdonald; William Burr; William Curzon; John Walker; Nelson Martin;
Jack Kneebone; William Frost; Walter (Wammy) Mellors; Jack Cauldwell;
Jack Porter; George Perry; Noble Tomlinson

Included with these recruits are probably:
Billy Curzon; Jack Porter; Walter (Wammy) Mellors; Jack Kneebone; Duncan Coooke;
Billy Burr; Noble Tomlinson; Tom Coleman; Billy Frost; Luke Coleman; Jack Cauldwell; George Perry.
It is believed that John Roe, brothers Herbert and Steven Bollington (and possibly John) are also amongst this group.

Army Pension Record
William Burr enlisted 20 October 1914 at Belper. He was aged 20 years 3 months and was employed as a farmer by Mrs V. Taylor, The Mount, Crich. His next-of-kin was his father, William Burr of Temple Brewer, Wellingore, Lincolnshire.
William embarked from Southampton for Rouen 25 June 1915 and was reported missing in the field 8 July 1916. He was a PoW at camp K33, Munster, Germany in October 1916. Whilst engaged in blasting in a mine a stone fell upon his left knee. He reported sick but was not allowed to see a doctor and he continued at work until sent to HP at Munster. Four months after which he was engaged at Sleltice (?) Power Station at Du?berg. Eventually his knee was operated on in Germany, at hospital Munster II Rinbharo on 23 November 1916.
William served in France for thirteen months and was a PoW in Germany for two years four months. He was demobilized at Grantham on 19 February 1919 with a 20% disability allowance due to his knee injury. He was discharged, single aged twenty-five, under Para 392 (xvi) of Kings Regulations on 11 June 1919.
[With thanks to Nivard Ovington]

PoW records
Burr William, 2820 Pte 5th N&D reg , Gommecourt 1/7/16, Munster, 8.7.94 Lincs, Mrs Wm Burr Temple Bruer, Lincs
Repatriated at Hull 27 November 1918

Medal Roll
Awarded Victory, British War and 15-Star Medals. To France 26 June 1915

Silver War Badge
200711, Private Burr, William Enoch, Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment, Badge B202645; enlisted 20.10.14; discharged 20.3.19 aged 25; Para 392 xvia