Harry Burtenshaw was born in Streatham, Wandsworth, County of Surrey on 29th March 1879, one of 10 siblings. He was the son of David Burtenshaw, born in 1857 in Dorking, Surrey and Elizabeth Esther Robins, born in 1854 in Cape Town, South Africa. As the daughter of a Sergeant Major in the 74th Highlanders, she would have understood well the military life. 

His followed his father's profession of bricklayer. On 1 October 1899 he married Rose Elizabeth Turpin at St Marks Church, Bow. They had four children, Henry Augustus, born in November 1900, Daisy Winifred, born in 1903, May Gertrude, born in 1905, and Maud Madeleine, born in 1911, who died of whooping cough aged 18 months. 

In May 1911 he left for Valparaiso, Chile. His date of return is unknown, but he then joined the London Regiment (Cyclists) 1/25th Battalion as Private 740940 and was killed in service at Ispana Raghza on the North West Frontier on 21 July 1917.

Medal card

[Courtesy of The National Archives]

Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19

Burtenshaw, Henry Edward, resident Poplar, enlisted Fulham, 740940, Cyc., killed in action India, 21 Jun 1917.

['Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19', Vol. 10, Part 76, Page 206, 25th (County of London) Battalion (Cyclists), pub. 1921 by His Majesty's Stationary Office]

The above information and the photo gallery for Harry Burtenshaw were provided by Valerie Cliff, his great granddaughter. Valerie can be contacted :-