Louis's Story.
Louis Burnell was born in Birkenhead on 14th February 1899 to parents Albert, a stonemason in a shipyard, Daisy Burnell.
By 1911 the family lived at 9, Gomer Street, Birkenhead. With Louis were his three brothers and two sisters. Louis was educated at St. John’s School, Birkenhead.
Following the outbreak of the First World War Louis enlisted on the 9th November 1914 in the Territorial Force with the 4th Cheshire Regiment. At the time of his attestation, he stated his age as 18, although he was actually only 15. He was allocated to home service based early 1915 in Aberystwyth, then later in the year at Bedford. During this period Louis found himself in trouble a number of times with minor army misdemeanours. He was discharged from the Army on 6th November 1915 as being underage, following the submission of his birth certificate from his parents.
Undeterred, Louis signed up as a merchant seaman. On the 20th January 1917 he was a trimmer on the SS Bulgarian when it was torpedoed by a U-Boat in the Atlantic . Louis Burnell lost his life through drowning.
Birkenhead News 14 April 1917
BIRKENHEAD SOLDIER DROWNED
Victim of Enemy Torpedo
We produce a photo of Private Louis Burnell, whose parents, we regret to announce, have received official intimation of his death by drowning. Private Burnell joined the Cheshire Regiment on the outbreak of war, and in December last he was on the British transport boat which was sunk in the Atlantic when homeward bound subsequent to being torpedoed. Pte. Burnell was very well known in Birkenhead, and his friends will greatly regret to hear of the sad news of his death under such circumstances. He was a prominent member of St. John’s Scouts and was educated at St. John’s School. Deepest sympathy is extended to his relatives and friends in their bereavement.
The above Birkenhead News article states Louis as being a Private in the Cheshire Regiment, however, as his story explains he was a merchant seaman at the time of his death.
Research, Louis Burnell’s photograph and newspaper article by Chris Booth.