Geoffrey Burnaby

A Lieutenant with 1/1st Bn., Geoffrey died on 23rd of October 1916 at the age of 22. 

Geoffrey was born at Beverley, Yorkshire, on 4 July 1894, a son of John Charles Wellesley and Louisa Frances Georgina Burnaby. He was baptised at Saint Mary's Church, Beverley, on 31 July 1894. At that time Geoffrey's father was the Vicar of Saint Mary's, and the family lived at The Vicarage. In 1898 Geoffrey's family moved to Asfordby, near Melton Mowbray, when his father became the Rector. In 1901 they lived at The Rectory, Church Lane, Asfordby. Geoffrey's father died in 1908 and by 1911 his mother was living at The Rectory, Ashby. 

Geoffrey attended Haileybury College between 1908 and 1913. In 1913 he became a student at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Geoffrey was commissioned, as a Second Lieutenant, in the 1st London Regiment on 28 September 1914 (London Gazette page 8011) and Lieutenant on 11 April 1915 (London Gazette page 5202).

Geoffrey arrived in France on 11 July 1916 and joined the 1/1st Battalion London Regiment. On 6 October 1916 the Battalion moved into the line north-east of Lesboeufs. On 7 October they took part in a divisional attack to capture Spectrum Trench and the ridge at Le Transloy. A similar attack was made on the following day and the Battalion. During the two days the Battalion lost three officers and 29 men killed; seven officers, including Geoffrey, and 114 men wounded; and 47 men missing. 

Geoffrey died from his wounds, at a military hospital at Etaples, on 23 October 1916.    

Geoffrey is commemorated on the war memorials at:
Haileybury College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Saint Mary's Church, Somerleyton