Vivian's Story.
Birkenhead News 10 June 1916
How Vivian Burchill Fell.
Third Birkenhead Journalist to Die for His Country.
In our Wednesday’s issue we regretfully stated that Lieut. Vivian Burchill, of the Manchester Regiment, had fallen at the front. Lieut. Burchill was the youngest son of Mr. A. Burchill, the managing editor of the “Liverpool Courier”, who resides at Grange Hill, West Kirby. Lieut. Burchill, a splendid young fellow standing about 6ft. 2in., was a few weeks ago wounded in the hand, and was home on leave a fortnight ago. Appended are extracts from letters received by Mr. and Mrs. Burchill, which tell of the high esteem in which the brave young officer was held by his Colonel (Colonel Whetham) and from Mrs. Whetham.
Colonel Whetham writes: - “As C.O. of the Battalion on me falls a very painful duty. I deeply regret to have to tell you that your son fell on the battlefield last night. No words of mine can, I fear, lessen your grief and that of Mrs Burchill. Will you please accept the deepest sympathy from myself and my brother officers? By his death this battalion loses a most capable and zealous officer – invaluable to me as a machine gun officer. This battalion carried out a raid on the enemy’s trenches on the night of the 2nd/3rd June. At about 11.15 p.m. your son discovered some men in trouble on our wire whilst they were returning. He at once went to their aid and helped them in. He then discovered that an officer was out in “No Man’s Land wounded, and he went out to get him. As soon as he was clear of our wire he was shot through the kidneys and brought in. He suffered no pain, and though not instantaneously killed was quite unconscious and died in a very short time. With my deepest regrets to both you and Mrs. Burchill in your sorrow from all ranks of the Battalion.”
Mrs. Whetham writing to Mrs. Burchill says :- “I can’t express how terribly sorry I am…. I knew your son, and my husband told me when he was on leave that he was one of his very best officers, and he expected great things of him. I am awfully upset about it, and more deeply sorry for you in your great grief than I can say.”