Lest we forget: BURNEY, James – King’s Own Royal Border Regt

Surname: Burney
First Name: James
Nickname: Jim
Awards:
Number: 24140774
Junior Service Location: Oswestry
Junior Service Date:
Junior Company: C
Junior Rank:
Permanent Staff Location:
Permanent Staff Service Date:
Permenant Staff Coy:
Permanent Staff Rank:
Regiment: King's Own Royal Border Regt
Regular Service Date: -78
Retirement Rank:
Age: 26
Date of Death: 1978 December 19
Gravesite: Whitehaven Cemetery, Cumbria (Sec 6, Row A, No 99)
KIA/DIS: Killed In Action
Location: Northern Ireland
Armed Forces Memorial: Yes
Roll of Honour: Yes

From “Lost Lives” – James from Whitehaven in Cumbria was shot by an IRA sniper in Baltic Avenue, Newington area off the Antrim Road. James and a Capt were leaving the house during a search operation when he was hit by a single shot. He was struck in the chest and died a short time later. The round passed through James and struck another soldier in the leg. At the inquest the Capt said the shot appeared to come from the Antrim Road area. When he and members of the patrol went into an unoccupied house they found a .303 rifle near a window in an upstairs room.
James was the 2067th person to die in the recent troubles.