Thursday 9 August 2007

Captain George Harold Burland, MC

Born on 6 July 1896 in Montreal, Quebec - son of George Hope Burland, Ottawa, Ontario - enlistment forms provide the following: present address in Ottawa, Ontario, trade as civil servant, single, (March 1916) no current or previous military service / (September 1916) currently serving with the 43rd Regiment and previously served one year in the McGill COTC, Methodist, height of 5 feet 10 inches, chest of 35 inches fully expanded, fair complexion, brown eyes, light brown hair.

Joined the 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Ottawa, Ontario, on 20 March 1916 (number 246063) - [then what?] - reenlisted in the 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Ottawa, Ontario, as a lieutenant on 28 September 1916 - taken on the strength of the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion as a captain on 23 November 1917 - wounded on 26 April 1918 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 13 May 1918 - wounded (at duty) on 28 or 29 September 1918.

Awarded the Military Cross - official citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer, in command of a raiding party, came against untouched wire and were exposed to heavy fire, which killed a N.C.O. and wounded him and two men. He, however, forced his way through the wire, being the first to reach the trench, driving one of the enemy into a dug-out, which was blown up. He continued to act with the utmost vigour, checking his party out of the trench and seeing that a wounded man was carried back to safety." - unit recommendation dated 29 April 1918: "This Officer performed very valuable work whilst in command of a section of a raiding party 26-4-18. Although wounded, he continued to lead his men and was the first man to reach the enemy trench. He later assisted in carrying in dead and wounded."

Appointed commanding officer of the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, on 15 May 1945 - relinquished commanding officer appointment on 15 June 1947 - died in 1978 - buried in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario.

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