Arthur Burden

Story:
Arthur Burden was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, his birth being registered in the 1st quarter of 1888, the son of Charles Burden and Mary Ann Burden (nee Pamden), a local family. He spent his early years at Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but on 3rd June 1906 had enlisted with the 2nd/1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 8088).  He served in India and was awarded the India Coronation Durbar Medal in 1912.  He returned to the UK and was placed on reserve on 2nd December 1913 but was mobilized and joined the 5th Battalion on 5th August 1914 on the outbreak of war.  He married May Eva Toop in Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1915.  Arthur had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 26th September 1916. He is remembered on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France, (Pier and Face 7 B).  (There is a notation on family records saying he was buried at some time well after the conflict but no grave reference is given.)    He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star.  He was later granted the 1915 Star clasp following application from the family.  It is understood his widow remarried, to Ernest Arthur Besant in 1922. His brother, Wyndham Burden, had also served in the conflict.