Harry Burdett came to Chelmsford with his widowed father around 1931. He worked on his father's farm in East Hanningfield and later on a farm in Sandon. He joined the army in 1940 and married in April 1942 a week before going overseas. He was killed in action in December 1943 Italy. His widow lived at Brownings Avenue; his sister in Primrose Hill.

Harry was born in Leicestershire in 1915, the son of the farmer and contractor Thomas William Wolfe Burdett and Henrietta Maud Bampton Burdett (nee Hicks). His father had been born in Leicestershire in 1872l his mother in Surrey in 1876. They had married in Nottinghamshire in 1897.

Harry's siblings included Thomas William Wilfred Burdett (1899-1985), Maud Burdett (born c1904), Cyril Burdett (1908=1978), Winifred M. W. Burdett (1910-1983), and Eric Burdett (1910-1985).

Harry's mother died in 1926 in Hertordshire. Six years later Harry was living in Danbury when he appeared before Chelmsford's magistrates. A local newspaper reported:

"Wagon in Accident.— Harry Burdett, Gibcracks Farm, Danbury, summoned in respect of a horse-drawn vehicle that was without lights at Woodharn Ferrers on - Jan. 9, pleaded guilty. P.s Bearman said that a wagon in charge of the defendant was involved in an accident on the Bicknacre road at 5.40 p.m. on Jan. 9. There were no lights on the wagon. When questioned, defendant said he was later than he expected.—Defendant said was delayed in a shop — Fined £1.— The Chairman said it was a dangerous thing for vehicles to be without proper lights after dark."

Harry's father died in 1935. At the time he was a farmer living at Little Gibcracks in Danbury. he left an estate valued at £1,633.

Prior to joining the army in 1940 to serve in the Essex Regiment Harry worked for Jason Barr, the farmer at Sandon Hall and lived at 48 Primrose Hill in Chelmsford with his sister Mrs. Wright. Harry subsequently served as Private 6022762 in the 5th Battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

On 6th April 1942 Harry, then aged 27, a soldier and living at 48 Primrose Hill, Chelmsford, married 21 year-old Edith Muriel Moore of 81 Brownings Avenue at St. Peter’s Church in Chelmsford. A week later he went overseas.

Harry was killed in action in Italy on 30th December 1943. Today he lies at the Sangro River War Cemetery in Italy (grave: XI. C. 6.). Harry’s brother, Eric Burdett, of the Suffolk Regiment had been a prisoner of war in Japanese hands since the fall of Singapore in February 1942.

Harry's widow died in 1966.

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