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John Burns was the Independent Labour Party MP for Battersea between 1892 and 1918. He was known as a radical and in a Punch Magazine illustration of 1909; he was depicted as the “Colossus of Battersea”. In August 1914, Burns was serving in Herbert Asquith’s Cabinet as President of the Board of Trade but Britain’s decision to enter the European War led to him resigning his position. He was one of two Cabinet members to do so. The Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey wrote to Burns on 5 August 1914 to express his sadness at his resignation saying: “Friendship remains now and forever”. Despite Burns’ public anti-war position, the MP’s son Edgar enlisted in January 1916. Edgar Burns served in France and Egypt and while he survived the war he suffered shell-shock and died in 1922, aged 26. John Burns died in 1943, aged 84. He is buried at St Mary’s Cemetery, Battersea alongside his wife and his son, Edgar. Location: 110 North Side, Clapham Common SW4 9SJ Image: Grave of John Burns