Hugh Burns D.C.M. M.M.

Killed in Action on the 12/04/1918 at the Battle of Hazebrouck (phase of the Battles of the Lys)

Hugh and the Battalion embarked aboard the SS "Caledonia" and arrived at Le Havre on the 15/08/1914 as Lines of Communication troops. They were part of the 19th Infantry Brigade, They were transferred to the 6th Division on the 12/10/1914, then the 27th Division on the 31/05/1915, the 2nd Division on the 19/08/1915 and finally the 33rd Division from the 25/11/1915. Hugh fell at the Battle of Hazebrouck, 12th - 15th April 1918. This was a phase of the Battles of the Lys, 9th - 29th April 1918 : The third German offensive Operation Klein-George (Georgette) takes place in Flanders with the objective of capturing key railway and supply roads and cutting off British Second Army at Ypres. After initial successes the German attack is once again held after British, Commonwealth and French reserves are somehow found and deployed. Hugh was 7 months short of serving the whole war. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY APRIL 1918. On Hugh's Pension Records it is listed he used Andrew as an alias (see photos). Hugh was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The citation is dated 13/02/1917 and states - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has performed consistent good work throughout the campaign and has at all times under fire set a splendid example. On one occasion he held an isolated trench with a few men under intense fire" (see photos). Hugh's 3 half-brothers served. Bernard and Peter McDonald were both Killed in Action (see Directory for both men). The 3rd half-brother Harry (full name James Henry) McDonald was lying in hospital in East Africa at the time of Hugh's death. Hugh is also remembered on the St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour (see photo). Hugh was awarded the Queens South African Medal, Kings South African Medal, Military Medal, Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914 Star, Victory Medal and War Medal. See photos for Hugh's Medal Index Card, his D.C.M. citation, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Ploegsteert Memorial x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Ploegsteert Memorial Panel List, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge and Hugh's and his half-brothers Pension Records x 7. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 4 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1), PHOTOS x 14 FOR THE 33rd DIVISION BOOK ARRIVAL and ORGANIZATION, PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE 33rd DIVISION BOOK 1st - 12th APRIL 1918, the 33rd DIVISION ORDER OF BATTLE x 14 (the Division he was with when he died) and another Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Leader 07/08/1915 regarding Hugh's half-brothers.