Born: 30th May 1916.
Story
John David Burley was the son of John Burley (1882-1954), and Alicia Goodall (1885-1966), who married in Kippax on 4th January 1915. John was a Butcher, who worked out of his home: Ashfield House, Ashfield Terrace, Station Road. His brother Edward Burley was also a Butcher, and memorably escaped from a German Prisoner of War Camp during the First World War. His older brother William Burley also survived the First World War, but was killed in an accident on 7th February 1919 at Clipstone Training Camp, near Mansfield, returning from the War.
John David Burley was a pharmaceutical assistant, and worked as a dispenser at Taylor’s Drug Stores before the Second World War, whilst living with his parents at Ashfield House. In 1941, John enlisted and began his service in India. Given his previous employment, it was unsurprising that he was put in charge of the drug department at a base hospital. On 3rd September 1943, John had been in India for two years, and it was reported that he had been promoted to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. This meant John was primarily responsible for maintaining standards and discipline. India was thrust into firmly into the War when Japan invaded Burma. Casualties of war were taken to India for treatment and the first were men of the 17th British and Indian Division.
John was still in Service on 30th June 1947, and when he returned to the UK, he left Kippax, and passed away on 7th February 1981 at 2 Salisbury Road, Weston Park, Staffordshire, at the age of 64.
Above: Two British officers and a Sikh radioman near Imphal, India, Mar-Jul 1944
Kippax Roll of Honour 