Kenneth Burr was born in Sarnia Township on August 9, 1923, the son of Gordon Nelson Burr and Harriet Bell (nee Kemsley) Burr, of Lakeshore Road, R.R. #3, Sarnia. Kenneth had one sister, Helen Matilda (born 1919), and five brothers: John Nelson (born 1921); Howard (born 1925); James (born 1927); Franklin (born 1933); and Gerald (born 1938). Kenneth received his early education at Clark’s schoolhouse, on Point Edward Road, and later took a technical course at Sarnia Collegiate. Prior to enlisting, he was employed by Anglin Norcross Limited at the Polymer Plant, listing his occupation as a blacksmith.

Kenneth Burr, single at the time, enlisted in the Canadian Army in October 1942. He was trained at Chatham, Petawawa, Woodstock and London before proceeding overseas in November 1943, as a member of the Royal Canadian Artillery, 2 Survey Regiment, with the rank of Bombardier. In early December of 1943, parents Gordon and Harriet Burr in Sarnia would receive a telegram from their son Kenneth informing them that he had arrived safely overseas. According to later letters that his parents received, Kenneth had gone to France only a few days after the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and that he most recently had been in Germany with the Canadian Forces.

On December 28, 1944, Bombardier Kenneth Burr would lose his life while fighting in Holland, during the Liberation of the Netherlands. In early January of 1945, parents Gordon and Harriet Burr in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Bombardier Kenneth Burr, has been killed in action in Germany.  Kenneth Burr was later officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Holland). In early February of 1945, a memorial service for Private Kenneth Burr was held in Trinity Anglican Church, Sarnia Township, conducted by the Rev. G.C. Stone. Twenty-one year old Kenneth Burr is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, Grave II.F.7. On Kenneth Burr’s headstone are inscribed the words, At rest.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, L, N, 2C, 2D