Letter from Rev Robert Kelson to Mrs. Burns, 10 October 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Rev Robert Kelso

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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This is a next of kin letter from Rev Robert Kelso, Principal Chaplain's Dept,Bologne Base, B.E.F. France to Mrs Burns whose son died in the Canadian Hospital, Bologne. He advised Mrs Burns that her son had appeared to be recovering well from his wounds, was in good spirits but then suffered a sudden relapse and died. He expressed his shock at the unexpected death, offered his deepest sympathies and gave details of her son's burial in France in grave number 4039. He added that her son's life and great sacrifice must surely be pleasing to God.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Kelso Papers, D3019/1/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/2790 English Rev Robert Kelso 1916-10-10 Chaplain's Dept, Bologne Base, B.E.F. France Mrs. Burns 74 Paisley Rd., Renfrew, Scotland Male World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 Mrs Burns 74 Paisley Rd. Renfrew Scotland Serg. Geo. Burns (8641) 2nd Canadians Principal Chaplains Dept Boulagne Base B.E.F. France 9.10.16 Dear Mrs Burns I am sure you will have heard the bad news of your son's death & I feel I must write to say how much I feel for you in your loss. After my last letter to you he was so much better that he said he had written you himself so I did not do so. I thought he was on the sure road to recovery & I was terribly disappointed when he suddenly became worse & passed away. He was in such good spirits & so confident of recovery that the relapse was - to me - as unexpected as it was sudden. He was buried in the military cemetery here - on 8th Sept Oct. - with full military honours & the number of his grave is - 4039. The authorities will send you a photo of the grave on application to "Director of Graves Registration & Enquiries, War Office Winchester House, St James Sq. London S.W." but it may be a little time before they can reply to you. Will you please accept my sincerest sympathy & believe me when I say that everything possible was done for your son's comfort & welfare while in Hospital. He has made the great sacrifice & such a life & death as his must surely be well-pleasing in the sight of Him who saith greater love hath no man than that a man lay down his life for his friends. Sincerely Yours R Kelso Chaplain's Dept, Bologne Base, B.E.F. France Letter from Rev Robert Kelson to Mrs. Burns, 10 October 1916 74 Paisley Rd., Renfrew, Scotland Letter from Rev Robert Kelson to Mrs. Burns, 10 October 1916 Rev Robert Kelso Letter from Rev Robert Kelson to Mrs. Burns, 10 October 1916