Patrick Burns

Patrick born in Granard seemingly on or around the 28 December 1869, but gave 1st November 1873 according to his Army attestment. He is a brother of Charles Burns as both of them name a James Burns from Druminacrehir as their next of kin. It is believed he emigrated to Canada in 1892 and participated in the Gold Rush, with his brother. Charles and Patrick's sister, Mrs. Maria Newman, also lived in Vancouver. 

Prior to enlistment at Dawson in 1916, Patrick worked as both a miner and a butcher. During WW1 Patrick served in England, departing Halifax N.S. on the 24 Jan 1917. He was transferred from the Yukon I.C. to the 7th Reserve Battalion at Witley, England in April 1917, but appears to have been based in between Seaford and the Witley Camp for the next year. Patrick returned to Canada in August 1919 and was demobed on the 28 Aug 1919. 

Patrick lived in British Columbia after WW1, giving his brother Charles's address as a contact. He appears to have still been working as a gold miner in 1931, as per the 1931 Census of Canada, where he was resident in the Cariboo South district, with Likely Post Office as his forwarding address; his obituary also mentions Charles living in Likely at this time.  Patrick died the following year, and is buried in the same cemetery as his brother Charles. 

Link to attestment and army record; link to probable Civil Record of Birth (please ensure web address ends in .pdf); link to possible entry in 1931 Canadian Census (page 4); link to Find a Grave entry; link to clipping of Obituary The Province, 16 May 1932 (Newspapers.com).