| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenlaw Patrol | Patrol member | 1941 | 26 Jul 1942 |
Building contractor
Andrew Burns was killed during training at Monksford; he was handling a device which failed to detonate, it exploded while he was carrying out a closer inspection with the aim of removing it. He lost hands and suffered chest and lower abdomen injuries as well as facial injuries. Due to the severity of the injuries and blood loss sustained as well as shock trauma, some 12 hours after the explosion he lost his fight for life at 09:25 on the 26th July 1942 in Peel hospital Galashiels with his wife Margaret by his side. Bringing home a stark reminder to the rest of the Patrol members, who witnessed and treated Andrew at the scene, that this was all too real.
He is buried in Greenlaw Parish Church Yard and remembered on the War Memorial as a Private of the 3rd Battalion Scottish Borders Home Guard.
He was employed by Middlemiss & Sons.
The National Archives in Kew Ref WO199/3388
Local Press