No 509 Surgeon William Robert Burkitt LRCSI (Eng 1855)
10 May 1834 [New Ross Co Wexford] – 23 Aug 1877 [Wicklow]
(Lt Col Foster's collection of Netley photos - courtesy AMS Archives)
Surgeon William Robert Burkitt qualified as a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1855. He entered the Army Medical Department as an assistant surgeon in April 1855.
He served in the Eastern Campaign from May 1855 and was present at the fall of Sebastopol. He received the medal with clasp and the Turkish Medal. He took part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny of 1857–1858 and was with the Kurnool Field Force at the capture of Sherapore and the storming of the forts of Kopul (medal).
In 1860, Surgeon Burkitt served with the 1st Dragoon Guards in China, including the affair of Sinho, the capture of the Taku Forts and the surrender of Pekin (medal with two clasps).
He died at Wicklow on 23 August 1877, aged 42 years.
Service Record
17 Apr 1855 Acting Assistant Surgeon.
17 Apr 1855 Appointed Assistant Surgeon 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot.
19 May 5 Dec 1855 Served in the Crimean War.
1857 Served in the Indian Mutiny. He was present with the Kurnool Field Force at the capture of Sherapore and the storming of the forts of Kopul.
1860 Served in China with the 1st Dragoon Guards. He was present at the capture of the Taku Forts and the surrender of Pekin.
18 Apr 1868 Promoted Staff Surgeon later Surgeon Major.
Malta 4 May 1868 Arrived from Gibraltar.
Malta Jan 1869 On duty at Forrest Hospital St Julians.
Malta 12 May 1869 Promoted Surgeon 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot.
Malta 26 May 1869 To England on leave. Returned to Malta on 13 September.
Malta 1870 Listed in the Malta Almanac as being on duty at Malta.
Malta 14 Nov 1871 Left for England on a medical certificate.
23 Dec 1871 Promoted Staff Surgeon from 48th Foot vice Staff Surgeon Major Francis Holton appointed to 48th Foot.
1872 On duty at Sligo and Londonderry.
1 Jan 1873 Surgeon 52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) Regiment. He remained the medical officer of 52nd Foot until June 1877.
Malta 15 Feb 1873 Arrived at Malta.
2 May 1873 Left for Gibraltar.
14 June 1877 Retired on half-pay with the rank of Surgeon-Major.
Bibliography
- Drew R., 1968. Entry No: 5491. Medical Officers in the British Army 1660 – 1960. Volume 1: 1660 – 1898. London: Wellcome Historical Medical Library.
- RAMC/PE/3/27/Drew. Manuscript for Drew's Roll.
- TNA:CO 158/228, General Returns of the Regimental Strength of the British Army (August 1870 – December 1871).
- The Malta Almanac for 1871.
- Succession Book Vol 9. Returns of service of medical officers in the Regular Army.
- TNA:CO 158/218, Malta Original Correspondence, Returns of Staff Officers Malta Garrison (January – May 1869).