13312 L/Cpl George Arthur Burch, 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards

13312 L/Cpl George Arthur Burch of the 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards, was killed in action 21st July 1917; 92 years ago today. He was a native of Ipswich in Suffolk and, according to Soldiers Died in The Great War (SDGW) also enlisted there. SDGW records his full name (above) but The Commonwealth War Graves Commission simply records his name as George Burch.

George's service record does not appear to have survived, however his medal index card notes that he arrived in France on 6th October 1914 and his number indicates that he must have joined the Grenadier Guards in June 1907.

George was born in 1883, his birth registered in Suffolk in the March quarter of that year. He appears on the 1891 census, aged eight, the son of George Arthur and Emma Burch living at 20 Mount Street in Ipswich. George senior (aged 30) is recorded as a boot and shoe rivetter. Also living at the same address were George's siblings: Henry Burch (aged six), Emma Burch (aged four) and Nelly Burch (aged 2).

By the time the 1901 census was taken, George Burch senior had died in 1899 and Emma Burch (aged 37) is listed as a widow and the head of the family; a cardboard box maker by trade. The family was now living at 20 Tanner's Lane, Ipswich and apart from Emma comprised George (aged 18, a grocer's porter), Henry (aged 16, a leather slipper maker, recorded as Harry on the 1901 census), Emma (aged 14, a factory hand), Nellie (spelled Nellie this time, aged 12) and a more recent arrival, Ethel Burch (aged six). It must have been a hard life and it may have been one of the reasons why, a few years later, George decided to sign up for a career in the British Army.

George Arthur Burch is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery; grave reference I.F.4.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, BMD, 1891 and 1901 census)
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War