| Rank | Corporal |
| Service # | A2150 |
| Unit # | Royal Canadian Signallers |
| Resident | 51 Grand Avenue., East. Chatham |
Born 20/11/1919 in Chatham, ON., the son of William H. and Elsie (nee Cameron) Burrows, brother of Pte. George. He was married to Phyllis (nee Coffill) of Hammersmith, London, England and they were living at 81 Grand Ave., East Chatham, ON. Phyllis was the first ‘war bride’ to arrive in Chatham, exactly one month after Cam arrived. They had married three years ago in England. CDN 27/03/44
Cameron enlisted in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in September of 1939, a unit of the 1st Canadian Division. He had not been home for Christmas for five years in 1944. He had come close to being killed during the Battle of Britian 1940-41. He had wanted to see a movie at Broadway cinema and the Garmont . The Garmont theatres movie ended ten minutes before the Broadway and “just as the people were coming out of the theatre the raid raid sirens sounded. Many of the people ran to the nearest shelter only to hit moments later by a high explosive bomb killing 150 persons.”
He served in England and in Sicily in 1943 where he was wounded in action, a shrapnel wound to his knee after being strafed by Messerschmidits and sent to hospital in North Africa where he almost lost a leg. “The Canadian forces had driven approximately 100 miles inland from the south coast of Italy.” While approaching the small town of Ipica a flight of nine Messerschmidts flying very close to the tree tops attacked the supply convoy moving along the road to Ipica. Cameron was making a leap from the trucks door to a stone fence and had made it for all but his legs. He was hit by two machine gun slugs into his left leg. Had the injury been an inch higher he would have lost his leg. After some time in North Africa he was invalided to England in February of 1944. He would then be sent back to Canada to Wolseley Barracks, London, ON where he was discharged as being unfit for military service. It was reported in the CDN 28/02/44 that Cpl. C. W. Burrows was one of four Kent County men in in 26 from “Western Ontario who arrived home on the week-end after being invalided home.” Sgt. Burrows was discharged from the army 5/05/1944 due to his injuries.
He served in England and in Sicily in 1943 where he was wounded in action, after being strafed by Messerschmidits.
He had served for four years and three months attached to the Royal Canadian Artillery.
MONDAY – Sept. 18.
“The morning was pretty quit too, but the wounded were beginning to come into the dressing station across the road. We also buried our first dead that morning. The Dutch people, had so far been very friendly and helpful.”
“This afternoon there was a gang of aircraft flying about and that was OK with us until we saw the black crosses – Ask Cam Burrows, he knows. However, there were no casualties in our H.Q. and we passed another fairly peaceful afternoon. From the diary of Sig. Dan Higley A2328848 1st Air Landing Brigade – Para Div. printed in the CDN 3/01/45, “Red Devils at Arnheim”.
In August of 1944, 24 year old Sgt. Burrows along with Alan Hepburn both honorably discharged from the army, subject to selective service regulations were appointed to to the Chatham Fire Department. CDN 22/08/44.
Cameron was sent to hospital in North Africa where he almost lost a leg. After some time in North Africa he was invalided to England in February of 1944. It was reported in the CDN 17/02/44 Cameron along with his English wife and their daughter Patricia age two. He would then be sent back to Canada to Wolseley Barracks, London, ON where he was discharged as being unfit for military service. It was reported in the CDN 28/02/44 that Cpl. C. W. Burrows was one of four Kent County men in 26 from “Western Ontario who arrived home on the week-end after being invalided home.” Sgt. Burrows was discharged from the army 5/05/1944 due to his injuries.
He had served for four years and three months attached to the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Cameron passed away19/10/2005.
Curator note: I went to school with Cam’s son John and I was curious about his HAM radio station in the basement. Many years later I met Cam while I was working on my own HAM radio licence which I eventually received. Thanks Cam -73- from VA3HND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | CFF-FD44, IODE(N), CDN (19/01/40), VR, CCI-RH |
| Birthplace | Chatham, Ontario |
| Religion | United Church |
| Marital Status | Married |
| When Enlisted | August 15th, 1939 |
| Next of Kin | Wife- Mrs. Phyllis Burrows |
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