The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalions

Burrus James Hales

He was born on 18 November 1897 at Wistow, Huntingdonshire, the son of James Samuel Hales and Mary Elizabeth Hales (nee Favell). His father was the village Miller and Baker - he was one of 12 children who lived in Mill Lane, Wistow. Burrus was named after the brother of his mother Mary Elizabeth Favell.

He originally joined the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion - enlisting in Huntingdon H.Q., at St. Mary's Street, on the 2nd November 1914 [2/1st Battalion] - he was given the number of 909 - he served in both the 2/1st and 1/1st Battalions of the H. C. B.. Upon enlistment he gave his address as Mill Road, Wistow.

Upon leaving for France he was posted to the 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment with the Regimental number of 39422. Army records also show that he served in the Machine Gun Corps. with the new Army number of 32759. One reference indicates that he was demobilized under section a/z/r - dated 6-5-1917. This would have been when he was in France.

From a local paper = Pte. B. J. Hales, Royal Berks, of Wistow, has been missing since May 3^rd - He enlisted in the Cyclist Battalion a year ago.

He was killed in action on May 3 1917 whilst serving as Private, 39422, in the 1st Bn. , The Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was only 19 years of age when he was killed in France an Flanders. Family tradition indicates that he was killed by a sniper.

He was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp, Alford, Lincs. at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916. At this time he was a private in C. company of the 2/1st H.C.B.

Burrus Hales had an elder brother, Fred Hales who was his elder brother. Fred, the eldest child of the family, also served in WW1, but we can't prove if he was a Cyclist or not. We do know that Fred survived the war, returned to Wistow after the war until 1957 and may have been awarded the Croix-de-Guerre at Vimy Ridge in 1917 or 1918.

Burrus name is also on a plaque on the wall in Wistow Church. His name is also recorded on Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial - Faubourg D' Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

I visited this cemetery in 2005 and laid a wreath at panel 7 in memory of all the HCB men that were commemorated in that cemetery.

Thanks to his relations, Stephen Howes, Elizabeth Cunningham and Janice Smith, for helping with some information on this page and also the page of John Hales - Burrus was the brother of Stephen's grandmother.

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@msn.com

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27/09/2006
. . Martyn Smith ©

	He was born on 18 November 1897 at Wistow, Huntingdonshire, the son of James Samuel Hales and Mary Elizabeth Hales (nee Favell). His father was the village Miller and Baker - he was one of 12 children who lived in Mill Lane, Wistow. Burrus was named after the brother of his mother Mary Elizabeth Favell. He originally joined the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion - enlisting in Huntingdon H.Q., at St. Mary's Street, on the 2nd November 1914 [2/1st Battalion] - he was given the number of 909 - he served in both the 2/1st and 1/1st Battalions of the H. C. B.. Upon enlistment he gave his address as Mill Road, Wistow. Upon leaving for France he was posted to the 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment with the Regimental number of 39422. Army records also show that he served in the Machine Gun Corps. with the new Army number of 32759. One reference indicates that he was demobilized under section a/z/r - dated 6-5-1917. This would have been when he was in France. From a local paper = Pte. B. J. Hales, Royal Berks, of Wistow, has been missing since May 3^rd - He enlisted in the Cyclist Battalion a year ago. He was killed in action on May 3 1917 whilst serving as Private, 39422, in the 1st Bn. , The Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was only 19 years of age when he was killed in France an Flanders. Family tradition indicates that he was killed by a sniper. He was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp, Alford, Lincs. at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916. At this time he was a private in C. company of the 2/1st H.C.B.
Burrus Hales had an elder brother, Fred Hales who was his elder brother. Fred, the eldest child of the family, also served in WW1, but we can't prove if he was a Cyclist or not. We do know that Fred survived the war, returned to Wistow after the war until 1957 and may have been awarded the Croix-de-Guerre at Vimy Ridge in 1917 or 1918.
Burrus name is also on a plaque on the wall in Wistow Church. His name is also recorded on Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial - Faubourg D' Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. I visited this cemetery in 2005 and laid a wreath at panel 7 in memory of all the HCB men that were commemorated in that cemetery.
Thanks to his relations, Stephen Howes, Elizabeth Cunningham and Janice Smith, for helping with some information on this page and also the page of John Hales - Burrus was the brother of Stephen's grandmother.
If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@msn.com
	Return to Soldiers Section.		Return to Main Menu.
27/09/2006	.	.	*Martyn Smith* ©