Regiment: Honourable Artillery Company 309th Siege Battery
Service No: 625542
Date & place of birth: 5 April 1889, Paddington
Date & place of death: 28 May 1917, Belgium
Gunner Albert Burningham was born in Paddington but both his parents were born and grew up in Petworth. He moved to Petworth about the time his father died in 1890. Albert’s surname is usually recorded as “Burmingham” but his brothers used “Burningham”.
Family background
Albert Burningham was born in Paddington the son of Allen and Mary Jane Burningham. Allen was born in Petworth and Mary in Egdean but they moved to Paddington where Allen worked on the railways as a porter. He became ill in February 1889 and died in Petworth in January 1890. In 1891 Albert and his two older brothers were living with Mary’s parents in Petworth and Mary was a needlewoman. By 1911 Albert was living and working in Canterbury as a shop assistant at an outfitters and tailors while Mary was living alone and working as a charwoman. His elder brother Allen was a policeman in Littlehampton and Frank a furniture maker in East Grinstead.
Military service
Albert enlisted in Canterbury into the Honourable Artillery Company.
Death and commemoration
Albert was killed in action in Belgium 28 May 1917 aged 28. He is buried at Ypres in Belgium and was awarded the Victory and British medals.