Public Contributions:

Alec and my aunt Helen George met in Dunedin before the war. Alec was attending Otago University studying to be a mining engineer. They got engaged when he graduated and Alec set of for Malaya 'to ma...ke his fortune' mining after which they would marry. They corresponded up until Japan invaded the Malay Peninsula, when Alec enlisted. Unfortunately he was captured by the Japanese & died whilst working as a slave labourer on the railroad. The attached photo is one Alex sent Helen in happier times. It shows him having a quiet cold one on the club verandah after a hard days work at the mine. Read More

Alex was the eldest son of Joseph and Helen (Nellie) Burns, of Hamilton, New Zealand. He was born in Scotland on September 22, 1913 and migrated to New Zealand in 1924 with his parents and three sibl...ings, Elsie, George, and Helen (died in childhood). A fifth child, William (Bill), was born in New Zealand. Alex was educated at Hamilton High School, and studied for a Bachelor of Engineering Mining from 1935 at Auckland University College, transferring to Otago University in 1937. He finished his course with the School of Mines in 1939, though it is unclear whether he gained his degree, and in December that year joined the Raub Australian Gold Mine in Pahang, Malaya, and later became battery manager. He was an outstanding rugby player, obtaining a Blue at Otago University and representing Waikato. At the outbreak of war he joined the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces (Sergeant), and became a Japanese POW on the fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942. According to his POW records, he was sent overland from Singapore on January 28, 1943 to work on the Burma-Thai railway and eight months later died of beriberi on August 30, 1943. A translation of the POW records say he died in Avalon, Moulmein (now called Mawlamyine), Tennasserim (now called Tanintharyi Division), and was buried there. His death was not confirmed until Malaya was reoccupied late in 1945. His remains were moved to Thanbyuzayat War Cemetary at a later date. Alex went to Malaya promising to return and marry his Waikato-based girlfriend, Olive Day, according to his sister-in-law, George’s wife, Noeleen Burns. Growing impatient with the delay Olive is said to have sent him an ultimatum that he either return and wed or the relationship was off. To Olive’s regret news came through of Alex’s capture soon after she sent the letter. However, Alex had told his mother he was sweet on a girl he met in Dunedin, Helen George. When the news of Alex’s death was finally confirmed his mother and sister travelled o Dunedin to see Helen and to tell her what had happened. Alex was just a few days short of his 30th birthday when he died. Alex had nine nieces and nephews, and he has been a presence in all their lives. Two nephews were named for him (George’s son Alex, Bill’s son Alex) and several boys in the next generation also bear his name as either a first or middle name. Read More