BALLYMENA 1914-1918

Rifleman James Burnett, 24789, 1st Bn, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, a fit 5’9”-5’10” tall labourer, was a local man who served in the New Zealand army during World War 1.  Though older, he gave his age at enlistment as 37 years.

          James Burnett was born on 22 July 1876 at Burnetstown, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, (Burnetstown is a clachan.  It is near the Crosskeys Road at Ballylummin – when James was born there were three houses and a number of cottages owned by the Burnett family. Burnetstown comprised of three farms run by three Burnett brothers and, according to Public Records Office NI, there were Burnetts there from late 1600s, so the area was named after them.),

          James was the youngest of eight children of Robert Burnett and his wife Peggy (nee Picken). The family were farmers. His mother died when he was only thirteen, and like most farmers’ sons, James worked on the farm from when he was a boy.  In 1903 this was left to his older brother Robert, who did not manage the finances very well. So in 1910 James, at the age of 34 travelled to New Zealand, in order to find work and send money home to help maintain the family farm. Later, he was to join the army.

          James was described in his army papers as having light brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion, and he weighed 155 lbs.  He had his medical at Kilburne, Wellington on the 19^th May 1916 and was formally enlisted in the forces on 22^nd May 1916 at Trentham, Wellington.

          He said his last employer was Mr. J. Craig, Longbeach, Ashburton, and he nominated a Mr Devon, Havelock Street, Ashburton and a Mr Robert Burnett of Hinds, Ashburton, the latter was his father’s cousin, as his next of kin in New Zealand.  His next of kin outside New Zealand was given as his brother, a Mr Robert Burnett, Ballylummin, Ahoghill. 

          He served for two years, 322 days and saw active service in Europe in 1916, 1917 and 1918. He was eventually discharged on the 8^th April 1919 in England.

          He was at times involved in railway construction and cable laying and was at some point apparently slightly wounded or injured, something to do with his right knee, though he rejoined his unit one week later.  More seriously, he was ill with trench fever for a time and was in hospital in London on the 3^rd September 1917; one month later, on the 3^rd October 1917, he was described as ‘improving’. 

          On the 15^th October 1917 he was transferred to Hornchurch to convalesce and from there he was released on the 14^th November 1917 to Cidford, presumably to rejoin his unit soon afterwards.

          After the war, and after three more years working in Ashburton, he came back to Ahoghill and later lived with his sister Eliza Dodds at Crankill, near Glarryford. James suffered from “chest problems” for the remainder of his life, but like most of the Burnett clan, he had a “good innings”.  He died, a confirmed bachelor, at Crankill, just north of Ballymena, in 1955, aged 79. 

Thanks to Yvonne Mitchell for her help in putting together this account.