It’s ANZAC day today,25th April (a day a bit like NZ’s and Australia’s memorial day/Nov 11) so first off I want to say a quick but heartfelt thank you to all the past and present service people out there.
Second I thought it might be nice to show my latest purchase. Even though there are millions of BWM out there this little BWM is my most precious kiwi medal.
I come from a little place (approx 17000 population) in NZ just outside of Wellington (the capital) called Wainuiomata. It’s a nice little place, fairly secluded, very working class but with a great community spirit and it’s a place I really like living in. During the First World War Wainui was a little rural village (pop less than 200 people) but like a lot of little communities through out NZ (and the rest of the world) the war touched here in quite a big way. Of the Wainui boys that went off to fight five never returned, and three of those were brothers. This little BWM was issued to the next of kin of one of those brothers.
I never thought I would ever own a medal that was issued to a chap from my hometown let alone one that was issued to a chap that was killed in action. It is very special to me and I will do my best to look after it while it is in my care. I have just started to do a little research on William and his family but this will be and on going mission.
William Burrow
Serial number: 11217
Killed in action: 29 September 1916
Memorial: Caterpillar Valley Cemetery (New Zealand) memorial, Longueval, Somme, France
Two brothers also killed: Robert Burrow (17/12/1917) and Jack Burrow (died of disease 07/11/1918 so close to the end)
Cheers
Chris
We will remember them.
Second I thought it might be nice to show my latest purchase. Even though there are millions of BWM out there this little BWM is my most precious kiwi medal.
I come from a little place (approx 17000 population) in NZ just outside of Wellington (the capital) called Wainuiomata. It’s a nice little place, fairly secluded, very working class but with a great community spirit and it’s a place I really like living in. During the First World War Wainui was a little rural village (pop less than 200 people) but like a lot of little communities through out NZ (and the rest of the world) the war touched here in quite a big way. Of the Wainui boys that went off to fight five never returned, and three of those were brothers. This little BWM was issued to the next of kin of one of those brothers.
I never thought I would ever own a medal that was issued to a chap from my hometown let alone one that was issued to a chap that was killed in action. It is very special to me and I will do my best to look after it while it is in my care. I have just started to do a little research on William and his family but this will be and on going mission.
William Burrow
Serial number: 11217
Killed in action: 29 September 1916
Memorial: Caterpillar Valley Cemetery (New Zealand) memorial, Longueval, Somme, France
Two brothers also killed: Robert Burrow (17/12/1917) and Jack Burrow (died of disease 07/11/1918 so close to the end)
Cheers
Chris
We will remember them.
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