Victor Thomas Burden

Story:
Victor Thomas Burden was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th November 1887 and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 18th December 1887, the son of James John Rideout Burden and Sarah Ann Burden (née Elliott).  Victor spent all his early life in Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury.  He enlisted on 27th November 1915 but, before he was mobilized, married Annie Emily Hawkins at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 27th December 1915. They went on to have three children. Victor was eventually mobilized on 29th February 1916 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 65016).  He served initially inn Salonika but mainly in France and Flanders with the 166th, 201st and 196th heavy batteries where he suffered back troubles and was eventually discharged as being unfit for further service on 17th January 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as a small short-lived pension.  The 1921 Census shows he was living at Leigh Farm Cottage, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer. Regrettably his wife died in 1928. By the 1939 Register he had moved to a cottage at Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and working as a Public Works Contractor's Labourer. He died at Hartgrove in 1970. Victor's brothers William Ernest Burden, James John Burden and Albert Edward Burden, also served in the conflict and all their names appeared on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.