Skull fragment : Trooper G D Burns, 6 Calvary Regiment, AIF

Fragment of skull with the date '1882' carved into the upper portion of the fragment. Underneath this is carved the place name 'TEL EL KEBIR' and underneath that is carved the date '1916'.

This skull fragment was picked up by an Australian soldier, Trooper George David Burns in Egypt during the Second World War. The year '1882' has been carved into the top of the fragment with the place name 'TEL EL KEBIR' carved beneath. This indicates the origin of the skull is likely to be from the Battle of Tel el-Kebir, fought between the British military and Egyptian Army in 1882. The carving is believed to have been done by an Egyptian and the later date '1916' that is carved beneath the words 'TEL EL KEBIR', suggest that it was carved for, sold or passed on to, a British or Australian soldier during the First World War. How the skull fragment came into the possession of Trooper Burns during the Second World War is unknown. Burns was born in Wondai, Queensland in 1916. Prior to his military service he worked as a farm labourer, enlisting in the army in November 1939. He embarked for the Middle East in January 1940, serving with 6 Australian Division Calvary Regiment in Egypt and Palestine (including Gaza). Trooper Burns was killed in action during the Battle of Bardia on 3 January 1941. He is buried in Knightsbridge War Cementry, Acroma in Libya.