A British War Medal To The P.p.c.l.i.; Sanctuary Wood Casualty

(475496 PTE. C.R. BURROWS. P.P.C.L.I.). Naming is officially impressed. Semi-dark patina, light contact, near extremely fine.

Footnote: Clifford Robert Burrows was born on July 27, 1890 in Belleville, Hastings County, Ontario, the son of Stephen and Victoria Burrows. He signed his first Attestation Paper as a Private (277) with No. 2 McGill University Company in Belleville, on June 24, 1915, at the age of 24 and his signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (474496) with the 4th Overseas Universities Company CEF in Belleville, on October 16, 1915, at the age of 25, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Stephen Burrows of Belleville, stating that he had previous service as a Lieutenant with the 15th Regiment Argyll Light Infantry, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Clerk. Private Burrows arrived in England aboard the S.S. Lapland on December 7, 1915 and was taken on strength at Shorncliffe the following day where he was transferred to the 11th Reserve Battalion. After three and half months training, he was transferred as a reinforcement to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and proceeded overseas to the French theatre on March 24, 1916. He was taken on strength at the Canadian Base Depot in France on the 26th, leaving for his new unit in the field on April 6th and joining them on the 7th. Two months after joining the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment), Private Clifford Robert Burrows (475496) was Killed in Action between June 2nd and 4th, 1916, the modern records acknowledging his death date as June 2nd, at the age of 25, at Sanctuary Wood, as part of the Battle for Mount Sorrel. The 1916 British Front Line south-east of Ypres was situated on this high ground of the Ypres ridge at Zillebeke known to the British Army as Mount Sorrel and the double summits of Hill 61 and Hill 62 (called Tor Top). Three divisions of the Canadian Corps were involved in the defence of the line here when the German Army made an attack on June 2, 1916. Having lost the high ground on the first day of the attack, the Canadians put up a determined fight to recapture the ground, which they did for the most part after 13 days of fighting. Casualties on both sides were heavy. The Canadians suffered just under 8,500 casualties, with 1,000 men killed and another 1,900 declared missing. Many Canadians killed in this battle are buried in the nearby cemeteries of Hooge Crater Cemetery and Maple Copse Cemetery. Those who are missing in action and whose discovered remains cannot be identified are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres. Burrows is remembered with honour on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, Grave Reference: Panel 10 and is commemorated on page 62 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. He was eligible for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, but not the 1914-15 Star. His father, Stephen Burrows received his Medals, Memorial Plaque and Scroll and his mother, Victoria Burrows received his Memorial Cross.