Private Adam Burrell

Private Adam P. Burrell, 103rd Coy, Machine Gun Corps ( Infantry ). He was killed in action in France on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, aged 20. He was the son of Adam and Agnes Burrell ( nee Cowan ) of Polmont, Stirlingshire and is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Before enlisting he had been employed at the Caledonian Railway Company Locomotive Department in Stirling. He was born in Channelkirk, Oxton and had originally enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders at Dunblane and went to France with the 2nd Battalion before transferring into the Machine Gun Corps. He had been twice wounded before being posted missing on 1st July. His death was finally confirmed in October 1916. His Headstone is inscribed “Ever Remembered”. The photograph shows troops advancing over no mans land with very little cover. The M.G.C. used the water cooled Vickers Mk1 gun in both offensive and defensive roles.