Edward Burrows

War Service

When Edward enlisted he was 22 years old and working as a ‘Collier’ for the Featherstone Colliery Company. He joined the 5th Battalion of the KOYLI – number 1970. According to his Statement of service Edward appears to have joined the regular army about the 4th May 1913 and was stationed in Aberystwyth between 26/7/1913 and 3/8/13 then Whitby between 26/7/14 and 4/8/14. These were probably for training purposes. His whereabouts in the intervening period is not recorded but may have been in the home area.
How Edward coped with army life during the above period is not recorded but his mental health appears to have deteriorated towards the end of 1914. In October he was admitted to Connaught Hospital, Aldershot where the following report was produced.
‘Patient was admitted to Connaught Hospital, Aldershot on 22.10.1914 with a wound to his left index finger. The finger was amputated and he was sent back to detention on the 24th. He was readmitted on the 28.10.1914 as he had made attempts to hang himself with (?).His mental condition did not appear normal. Transferred to Netley on 28.10.1914 for further observation.
I do not consider the disability to be caused by military service.”
A subsequent report stated –
“Patient on admission was (?) and emotional. Complained of severe pain in his head. At present he has fits of depression and was very depressed when he attempted suicide by trying to hang himself. He is worried because he is so far off from his father. He is simple and childish in his manner. He states cutting off his finger was an accident.
Discharge as permanently unfit.”
On other occasions the words ’melancholia” and ‘insane” were used.
Edward was not entitled to any medal award. It is not known what happened to him after he was discharged from the army.

Family Life

The Burrow(s) were a somewhat elusive family to track as they do not surface in several of the census searches.
In 1901 they were living in Low Street, Brotherton. The head of the family was a widow called Edward (1st) Burrows aged 45 and a ‘Coal Miner’ who was born in Leeds. He had 5 children living with him - James W.(21) a ‘Coal Miner’ born in Newton, Albert (19) also a ‘Coal Miner’ born in Fairburn, Aquilla (13), Ada (12) and Edward (2nd aged10) all born in Brotherton.
In 1911 Edward (1st) was a widow and still living in Brotherton. The only one of his family with him at the time was Edward (2nd) although a ‘Housekeeper’ called Elizabeth Hewett was living in.
At some stage after 1911 the family moved to Cutsyke, near Castleford and lived at 13 Ramsden Street and that is the address given on Edward’s Army records. There was another family in the village headed by William Burrows who was also born in Leeds.