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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William James Gordon Burns

In memory of:

Major William James Gordon Burns

September 28, 1918

Military Service

Age:

28

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Field Artillery

Division:

32nd Battery, 8th Brigade

Honours and Awards:

Distinguished Service Order

Additional Information

Son of the Reverend R. N. Burns, D.D. and Mrs. M. C. Burns, of 486 Jarvis St., Toronto, Ontario

Commemorated on Page 377 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

ONTARIO CEMETERY, SAINS-LES-MARQUION
Nord, France

Grave Reference:

I. C. 1.

Location:

Sains-les-Marquion is a village and it lies approximately 2 kilometres south of Marquion, which lies on the main straight road from Arras to Cambrai. The Ontario Cemetery lies to the south of the village. The cemetery was made after the capture of Sains-les-Marquion by the Canadian Division on September 27, 1918. The Cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice and now covers an area of 949 square metres. It is enclosed by a rubble wall.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Circumstances of Death Registers– Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Burbank to Bytheway. Microform Sequence 16; Volume Number 31829_B016725. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 160. Page 429 of 926.

    Details

    Circumstances of Death Registers
    Circumstances of Death Registers – Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Burbank to Bytheway. Microform Sequence 16; Volume Number 31829_B016725. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 160. Page 429 of 926.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram April 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram April 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram October 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram October 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of William James Gordon Burns– From "The War Book of Upper Canada College", edited by Archibald Hope Young, Toronto, 1923. This book is a Roll of Honour including former students who served during the First World War.

    Details

    Photo of William James Gordon Burns
    Photo of William James Gordon Burns – From "The War Book of Upper Canada College", edited by Archibald Hope Young, Toronto, 1923. This book is a Roll of Honour including former students who served during the First World War.
  • Memorial Tablet– Major William James Gordon Burns is remembered on this brass Memorial Tablet. It was unveiled on May 1st, 1921 in memory of Upper Canada College students who died on active service during the First World War. Upper Canada College is located in Toronto, Ontario.

    Details

    Memorial Tablet
    Memorial Tablet – Major William James Gordon Burns is remembered on this brass Memorial Tablet. It was unveiled on May 1st, 1921 in memory of Upper Canada College students who died on active service during the First World War. Upper Canada College is located in Toronto, Ontario.
  • Honour Roll– From the "University of Toronto / Roll of Service 1914-1918", published in 1921.

    Details

    Honour Roll
    Honour Roll – From the "University of Toronto / Roll of Service 1914-1918", published in 1921.
  • Newspaper Clipping

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping
  • Photo of William Burns– From: The Varsity Magazine Supplement Fourth Edition 1918 published by The Students Administrative Council, University of Toronto. Submitted for the Soldiers' Tower Committee, University of Toronto, by Operation Picture Me.

    Details

    Photo of William Burns
    Photo of William Burns – From: The Varsity Magazine Supplement Fourth Edition 1918 published by The Students Administrative Council, University of Toronto. Submitted for the Soldiers' Tower Committee, University of Toronto, by Operation Picture Me.
  • Acta Victoriana War Supplement– Source: Acta Victoriana War Supplement, Victoria College, Toronto, Ontario, December 1919.

    Details

    Acta Victoriana War Supplement
    Acta Victoriana War Supplement – Source: Acta Victoriana War Supplement, Victoria College, Toronto, Ontario, December 1919.
  • Photo of William Burns– Source: Acta Victoriana War Supplement, Victoria College, Toronto, Ontario, December 1919.

    Details

    Photo of William Burns
    Photo of William Burns – Source: Acta Victoriana War Supplement, Victoria College, Toronto, Ontario, December 1919.
  • Grave Marker– Photo courtesy of Wilf Schofield, England, 2008.

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Photo courtesy of Wilf Schofield, England, 2008.
  • The Soldiers' Tower– The Soldiers' Tower was built at University of Toronto in 1924 in memory of those lost to the University in the Great War. Among the 628 names carved on the Memorial Screen beside the Tower is that of William James Gordon Burns. After the Second World War, the names of 557 more men and women were carved in the Memorial Arch underneath the Tower. Photo: K. Parks.

    Details

    The Soldiers' Tower
    The Soldiers' Tower – The Soldiers' Tower was built at University of Toronto in 1924 in memory of those lost to the University in the Great War. Among the 628 names carved on the Memorial Screen beside the Tower is that of William James Gordon Burns. After the Second World War, the names of 557 more men and women were carved in the Memorial Arch underneath the Tower. Photo: K. Parks.
  • Entrance

    Details

    Entrance
    Entrance
  • Cemetery

    Details

    Cemetery
    Cemetery
  • Memorial– Memorial Room, Soldiers' Tower, University of Toronto. Photo by David Pike, 2010; courtesy of Alumni Relations.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Memorial Room, Soldiers' Tower, University of Toronto. Photo by David Pike, 2010; courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial– Inscription in Memorial Room, Soldiers' Tower. The carillon was installed in 1927. Originally there were 23 bells. Alumni and friends donated funds for bells in memory of those who fell in the Great War. Dedications are carved high on the walls of the Memorial Room. Bell XXII is dedicated: "The Alumni Association and friends of Victoria College". Photo courtesy of Alumni Relations.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Inscription in Memorial Room, Soldiers' Tower. The carillon was installed in 1927. Originally there were 23 bells. Alumni and friends donated funds for bells in memory of those who fell in the Great War. Dedications are carved high on the walls of the Memorial Room. Bell XXII is dedicated: "The Alumni Association and friends of Victoria College". Photo courtesy of Alumni Relations.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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