Private Ernest Burnett
12174 6th Shropshire Light Infantry
Killed in Action 25th September 1916, aged 25
Lived in Rochdale, formerly 46 Branch Road
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France

MACHINE GUNNER KILLED (Burnley Express 14th October 1916 (P) )

Official news has been received that Pte. Ernest Burnett of the machine gun section, Shropshire Light Infantry, formerly of Burnley, was killed in action on Sept. 28th. Pte Burnett, who was 23 years of age, was an old Burnley Wood boy and at one time worked as a weaver for Messrs. Haythornthwaite at Spring Hill. He then removed to Rochdale, where his wife resides. When in Burnley he was connected with the Brooklands Road Wesleyan Church. He enlisted a fortnight after the war broke out, and had spent seventeen months in the trenches. Both his parents are dead, his father dying during the present year. Two brothers have also seen Army service, Tom being a machine gunner with the East Lancashires, and served in the Dardanelles, and now fighting somewhere in the East; and James who has served with the King’s Liverpools and lost his left leg.

FORMER BURNLEY WEAVER
OFFICIAL NEWS OF DEATH IN ACTION

Pte. Ernest Burnett (25) who formerly lived with his sister, Mrs Wilcock, at 48 Branch Road, Burnley, was killed in action on September 18th. He was in a machine gun section. He enlisted a fortnight after the war broke out, and experienced 17 months of trench life. In January he had three days furlough to come home to bury his father. Official news of his death was sent from the War Office last Saturday. The last word received from the soldier himself was a field card, dated September 16th.

Before enlisting, Pte. Burnett was a weaver. Latterly he lived at Rochdale. He leaves a widow and one child. At Burnley he worked at Haythornthwaite's, Spring Hill. He attended Brooklands Road Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday School. Two brothers also joined the Army. Tom is now in Mesopotamia. James has had his leg taken off, as a result of a shell explosion in France.