Description
The Anglo Boer War medal pair to Deputy Assistant Director of Railways (DADR) Eastern District Colonel James Montagu Burn. This was the sole entitlement of Burn, however his story has a far deeper historic significance.
Captain James Montagu Burn was the central figure that sparked the 1898 punitive Makran expedition of Colonel R. C. G. Mayne, Bombay Army who was subsequently decorated with the Order of the Bath for the 1898 Operations.
The medals of Lt. Col James Montague Burn – Royal Engineers (Survey of India) – Queen’s South Africa Medal with Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps ( Capt. J.M. Burn. R.E. ) and King’s South Africa Medal with South Africa 1901 and 1902 clasps ( CAPT. J. M. BURN. R.M. )
His Statement of Service confirms that James Montagu Burn was born on Prince of Wales Island (now Penang) Malacca on the 18th December 1866. His father was Lt. Col. James Burn who had served in the Indian Mutiny 1857. His progression through the service began as Lieutenant (Royal Engineers, Cadet Company) 17th February 1886, Captain (R.E.) 9th April 1896 then Major (R.E.) 5th April 1904.
Prior to the infamous surveying expedition getting underway Burn had actually placed an advertisement in the Civil and Military Gazette, 14th August 1897 (pp 8) advertising as follows: Wanted – From 15th September next, for six months, a really good COOK, Mug preferred to accompany undersigned on Survey Work along Persian Gulf. Good wages will be given to any really competent man. Copies of testimonials and rate of wages expected to be sent to Captain J.M. Burn R. E. Survey of India, Himalaya Club, Mussorie.
During this survey the party led by Captain Burn was attacked, men murdered, money and weapons stolen.
The events of the attack on Captain Burn’s camp is covered in the Army and Navy Gazette – Saturday 15 January 1898 as follows: There is intelligence from India of a rather serious outbreak in the Makran district, which has resulted in an attack on a British surveying party consisting of Captain J. M. Burn and Lieutenant Turner, R.E. The eastern portion of the Makran coast, stretching from the mouths of the Indus to the eastern frontier of Persia and forming the southern frontier of British Baluchistan, is well pacified and gives the Government of India very little trouble, but the western portion, especially the mountainous district bordering on the Persian frontier and traversed by the river Dasht, has for many years been the scene of occasional petty disturbances. It is inhabited by the Rind tribesmen, who are notorious raiders, and by the Gichkis, who, though they have not quite such bad reputation, are likewise turbulent. The Gichki ‘chiefs have often defied the authority of their suzerain, the Khan of Khelat, and have generally been in more or less strained relations with his Naib or Nazim, who resides at Nasirabad Fort, a short distance northwards. The recent attack appears to have been led by the brother of the Sirdar of Gichkis, and the Rind tribesmen are said to have joined in it. Captain Burn, who escaped on a camel and rode 130 miles in thirty-six hours to Ormara, reports that the whole of the Kej Valley is more or loss in turmoil. The Khan of Khelat’s troops are holding Nasirabad Fort. Passui has been looted and Ormara is threatened. Two guns and three companies were being despatched from Quetta ; but at the India Office yesterday no fears were entertained that matters would assume any alarming proportions, and it was stated to have nothing whatever to do with the recent rising on the north-west frontier. Lieutenant Turner is understood to be safe.
One of many further reports and documentation that can be found covering this event is as follows:
REPORT ON THE INDIAN SURVEYS, 1897-98.
The Indian Survey Report, an early copy of which has just reached England. Always contains interesting details of various scientific operation carried on by the Department over a very large field, often extending far beyond the frontiers of India itself. The period covered by the present report is the year ended September 30th 1898 and one of the first events chronicled is the attack made in Makran on the single party under Captain J. M. Burn. R.E. to whom was entrusted the duty of extending the main India triangulation westwards toward the Persian border as a basis for future surveys. Makran is a forbidding region, though one of the great strategic and political importance and it is doubtless owing to its being still very imperfectly opened up and occupied that the natives are so refractory. Captain Burn’s main camp was attacked and looted and thirteen men were killed besides 15,000 rupees being carried off. Captain Burn, who had been suffering form fever was fortunately encamped on the top of a hill at a little distance from the main camp and he and the men with him escaped with their lives but with difficulty and hardships as they were about 130 miles from the nearest European station. Other members of the party also managed to reach the coast in safety but four poor fellows forming a “lamp squad” took refuge in a fort and were killed by the natives. The punitive measure instituted by the Indian Government do not find record in the survey report but it may be recalled here that Colonel Mayne was despatched to the scene with a small force and completely routed Baluch Khan and 1500 of the rebellious tribesmen on January 31st 1898.
There were no campaign medals issued for the Operations in Makran, India 1898, though some Orders and Medals were awarded for certain individuals. These are listed at the end of this description.
Burns served 11 years in Bengal and India (1888 to 1899), nearly 3 years in South Africa where he was a Special Service Officer and on Staff as D.A.D. Railways followed by a further 9 years back in India.
Personal information – Born 18th December 1866 on Prince of Wales Island, Malacca (now known as Penang, Malaysia). At the time his father, James Burn, was Major of the Bengal Staff Corps, Resident Councillor at Malacca. Mother Jessie Mills, living at 93 Sydney Place, Pulteney , Bath. Educated at Wellington College. He married Fanny Isabella Alcock in Bath 1st July 1907. Brother of Colonel Alexander Henderson Burn CIE, OBE, 59th Scinde Rifles, who was thrice wounded and five times mentioned in despatches in a long and distinguished career that saw him in action on the North-West Frontier, on the Western Front and in Mesopotamia. His daughter married 19th June 1919. James Montague Burn died at Twickenham 17th March 1912 after a total service of 26 years 30 days.. Burn is buried at Twickenham Cemetery. Widow Fanny Isabella. Living 2 Southfield Gardens, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham.
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Further information and Recommended reading: Awards for the 1898 operations
Order of the Bath (Companion, Military Division) Lieutenant-Colonel R.C.G. Mayne, 30th Bombay Infantry. Distinguished Service Order Captain A. Le G. Jacob, 30th Bombay Infantry. Lieutenant J.H. Paine, Royal Artillery.
Indian Order of Merit (3rd Class) Subedar Ahmed Khan, 30th Baluch Infantry: For conspicuous gallantry in action at Gok Parosh, in Mekran [sic], on the 31st January 1898. The Subedar was with the left flank attack, with Captain A.LeG. Jacob, and showed conspicuous gallantry and courage in leading a small party of his men, in the face of heavy odds, against superior numbers of the enemy, and dislodging them from strong positions.
Brevet rank of Major – Captain Robert Southey, 30th Bombay Infantry.
Mentioned in despatches – Lieutenant H.T. Naylor, 6th Bombay Cavalry, Lieutenant J.H. Paine, R.A. No 4 (Hazara) Mountain Battery, Jemadar Shaikh Khuda Baksh, No 4 (Hazara) Mountain Battery, Lieutenant H.H. Turner, Royal Engineers (Transport Officer), Major G.E. Even, 30th Bombay Infantry, Captain R. Southey, 30th Bombay Infantry, Captain A. Le G. Jacob, 30th Bombay Infantry, Subadar Ahmad Khan, 30th Bombay Infantry, Jemadar Fazl Shah, 30th Bombay Infantry, Lieutenant S.G. Knox, Political Agent.
The Soldier’s Burden – http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/420601.html
Jstor – https://www.jstor.org/stable/1774372
The Makran event is widely reported nationwide in newspaper archives.
