You guys are awesome, thank you. I have just double checked the Ireland BMD's as things do get updated from time to time and still can't find anything. He doesn't stand out anywhere on the 1901 or 1911 census either but I'm now just thinking about your previous question. He could possibly have been working the boats between Belfast, Dublin & Scotland, many did for the work. It may also be relevant to say that his father also Peter or Patrick Burns/Byrnes, was a soldier born about 1839, so he could have followed in his footsteps.... I know, not your field, but it may add to the theory that he did do something for the war effort