Burns, Vernon Henry: Service no. 775740 (Military Medal)

Source: Per service record of Alexander Drummond, reg. no. 730492.

Military Medal

Source: Toronto Telegram. July 1917. Per news clipping post by David Archer at 18th Battalion Facebook Page (not group).

Summary of Service[i] for Sergeant Vernon Henry Burns, reg. no. 775740

Date	Event	Remarks
December 24, 1890	Born	Born this date to Mrs. Helen Burns at Port Credit, Ontario, Canada.
December 15, 1915	Enlisted	Enlisted with the 126^th Overseas Battalion at Toronto, Ontario. He was a carpenter standing 5.6.5” tall. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. He was a member of the Church of England and lived at Port Credit. No prior military experience. He is 175 lbs. and has a 35” chest with 3” expansion. His next-of-kin is Mrs. Helen Burns, mother.
March 1916	Inoculated and Vaccinated
August 1, 1916	Assigns Pay	Assigns pay to his mother of $20.00 per month. Note that this form has her forename as “Ellen”.
August 14, 1916	Unit Sails
August 24, 1916	Arrives England	Arrives England aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain.
October 15, 1916	Struck Off and On Strength	Struck off Strength from the 126^th Battalion to the 116^th Battalion in preparation for assignment on the Continent.
November 28, 1916	Struck Off and On Strength	S.O.S 126^th Battalion to the 18^th Battalion.
November 29, 1916	Taken On Strength	T.O.S. “in the field.” Arrives from 116^th Reserve Battalion at Canadian Paste Depot, Le Harve.
December 1, 1916	Admitted	Admitted to No. 39 General Hospital, La Havre. Issue was not yet determined. Slight.
January 17, 1917	Sentenced	Sentenced to Field Punishment No. 1 for: When on active service, 1. Breaking away from his party on Beach fatigue, without permission, 2. Drunkeness.
February 26, 1917	Discharged to Reinforcements	Suffers pay stoppages for 87 days in hospital of $0.50 per day and $0.10 field allowance.
March 5, 1917	Arrives at 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion
March 18, 1917	Joins 18^th Battalion
April 18, 1917	Admitted	Admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance.
April 21, 1917	To Duty with Unit
August 7, 1917	Admitted	Admitted to No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance. GSW left leg.
August 7, 1917	Admitted	Admitted to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance. GSW left leg.
August 13, 1917	Admitted	Admitted to No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance. GSW left leg.
September 9, 1917	Discharged to Duty	Having suffered a GSW to the left leg, he was discharged to duty on this ate at No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance.
May 30, 1917	Appointed	Appointed Acting Sergeant with pay vice 53920 W.W. Grace, wounded.
November 15, 1917	Promoted	Promoted to Corporal, vice 174554 Corporal J.A. Egan, invalided to England.
December 15, 1917	Granted 14 Days Leave	Leave granted to England.
April 19, 1918	Promoted	Promoted Sergeant, vice 409135, Sgt. R. Harper, promoted.
August 16, 1918	Dispatched to England	Dispatched to England for Musketry Instructors’ Course at School of Musketry, Hayling Island.
September 24, 1918	Report of Progress from School of Musketry	a. Musketry knowledge on arrival at school – good. b. Progress during attendance – good. c. Whether fit for the position of Battn. Sergeant Instructor of Musketry – YES.
April 7, 1919	Dental Exam	No notes.
April 9, 1919	Medical Exam	Medical Exam at Witley Camp. It is determined that he has amblyopia in the left eye since childhood.
May 14, 1919	Sailed	Sailed for Canada from Liverpool aboard the S.S. Caronia.
May 24, 1919	Discharged	Discharged with the remaining member of the 18^th Battalion at London, Ontario. His proposed residence is Port Credit.
August 5, 1919	Awarded Military Medal	Ref. London Gazette. No. 31430. July 13, 1919. Page unknown.
October 23, 1922	Married	Married to Mabel Norgrove at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
August 13, 1927	Emigrated to the U.S.A.	Arrives in Detroit, Michigan aboard the D & W Ferry.
May 12, 1939	Petitions for Citizenship U.S.A.
1966	Dies	Dies 1966 and is interned at Greene Cemetery Belding, Ionia County, Michigan, USA.

[i] The Summary of Service for this soldier is meant as just that, a summary of his service. It is not intended to be an exhaustive biographical relation of his life or his war service. Some information may be deliberately suppressed by the author out of sensitivity to the soldier. Readers are encouraged to reference the actual service records available at the Library and Archives Canada in PDF format if they wish to learn more about this soldier. Such additional information (i.e. hyperlinks etc.) are for informational purpose only and no claim to verification or accuracy is made by the author of this summary.