 In 1910 Burn partnered Gordon Thomson to win Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta beating Albertus Wielsma and Bernardus Croon in the final.Burn completed his training at St Bartholomew's Hospital and became a House Surgeon there.During World War I he was a temporary Captain in the RAMC and served as Assistant Surgeon at the St John's Ambulance Brigade Hospital with the BEF.