N/K

PoW number 4761

4^th (Durham) Survey Unit, RA

April  – July 1941

Stalag XVIIId, Marburg, Austria

Deceased. Same Unit as Charles Bryant

William Burn in civilian life was a postman/driver in Newcastle Upon Tyne and lived in Dunston on Tyne with his wife Elizabeth. He was born in Dunston on Tyne on the 8th February 1911. He married Elizabeth on 12th March 1938.

William enlisted in January 1939 to the 4th Durham Survey Regiment (TA). after the outbreak of war, his regiment was renamed the 4th Durham Survey Regiment. They travelled the country surveying for the big guns and ack-ack at coastal defence points and various airfields and army installations. During that period he was Batman/Driver for Major Leonard Kellett (one of the regiments officers).

On 14th November 1940 the regiment embarked for Egypt arriving 31st December 1940. The journey was arduous – across the Atlantic, down the east coast of the Americas, across to South Africa then up the east coast of Africa and through the Red Sea. They were encamped near the Pyramids of El Ghiza. on 1 April 1944 the regiment embarked for Greece and disembarked at Piraeus on 5 April 1941.

William was admitted to no 26 General Hospital on 15 April 1941 not sure why but probably sand fly fever. On 30th May 1941 he was posted as missing since 29 April 1941. He was reported as a PoW on 22nd July 1941 at Corinth and on 13th August 1941 he was posted as a PoW in Stalag XVIIId, Marburg Austria, PoW number 4761 he remained in Austria until he was liberated on 29th May 1945.