GrahamClayton: Burrell, Herbert Heckford (5 July 1870 - 23 March 1956)Born in Cawnpore, India (his father was a missionary). At age twenty-one Burrell completed a Bachelor of Music degree at Cambridge, remaining there as a tutor for two more years. In May 1898 he emigrated to Winnipeg, where he was employed by the municipal tax department. Apart from music (composing and playing the piano) Burrell was also an artist of some ability; he was a member of sketch clubs in both London and Winnipeg and had work published in Punch. Burrell volunteered for the army in July of 1916 and served until 1919; he was asked to be a war artist but refused, preferring to contribute in the more practical role of stretcher bearer (he sketched at the front lines anyway). In 1935 Burrell retired and moved to North Vancouver to provide a better climate for his son Arnold, who was asthmatic. Arnold took his initial piano and art lessons from his father and subsequently developed into a notable artist in his own right. The senior Burrell passed away in North Vancouver at the age of eighty-five and is interred in the military section of the North Vancouver Cemetery.
Burrell was taught chess at age eleven by his father. After emmigration he joined the Winnipeg chess club, and seems to have been an active club player for the rest of his life. He came second in the Northwest Championships of 1901 and 1903 but did not win the event until 1916, subsequently repeating as champion in 1927. In later life he said he received his best training from Magnus Smith, a frequent opponent unitl the latter left for New York in 1907. Burrell played Géza Maróczy and Emanuel Lasker when they visited Winnipeg, and while on leave during the war he had the chance to cross swords with Blackburne. Burrell participated in the 1904 Canadian championship in Winnipeg, scoring 5.0/11; his other championship appearance was in 1941, where he finished last - however, it should be remembered that Burrell was seventy-one years old. He was representing B.C. by that time, so must have done well in the B.C. championship for that year, although we have no information about the tournament except the winner (Leo Duval). Burrell was thus the second player from B.C. to take part in the Dominion championship, after John Ewing in 1924.
In the 1940s Burrell was a member and sometime treasurer of the Vancouver chess club and would walk from his home to the club and back via the Lions Gate bridge, there being no club in North Vancouver at the time. This changed in 1952 with the formation of the North Vancouver chess club, and despite his advanced age Burrell won the club championship in 1952, 1953, and 1955, only relinquishing it temporarily to Byron Arden in 1954. Burrell was also active in the BC - WA matches, and still played as high as board 15 (out of 30) in his last match in 1955. Around this time he said, "I have wasted many hours playing chess. She is a fascinating mistress. Keep her in check!" This may have upset the jealous Caissa, or perhaps it's just the vagaries of history, but for whatever reason we unfortunately have no published wins by Burrell - only losses and two draws.
Given his background and the fact that this Bulletin will appear around Remembrance Day, it should be noted that Burrell's war diaries were donated to the Canadian War Museum and excerpts may be read online. "After the war they say the question will be asked what did you do in the Great War? To us out here the question rather arises what have you done with your LIFE, any moment it may have gone from you."
http://www3.telus.net/public/swrigh...
Kibitzing
