Regimental number | 2803 |
Place of birth | Stanley |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Engine driver |
Address | 90 Young Street, Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 27 |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Katherine Maine Burgess, 'Ormond', Dangar Street, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Rank on enlistment | Sapper |
Unit name | 7th Field Company Engineers |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 14/26/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 7th Field Company Engineers |
Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Displayed great gallantry and initiative in assisting to mark out trench near Eaucourt-Abbey-Geudecourt. Recommendation date: Bar to Military Medal For conspicuous gallantry in helping to complete wire entanglements under heavy fire. Also for consistent good work. Recommendation date: |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Medals |
Military Medal 'By Corporal BURGESS's fine example of gallantry and organisation he greatly assisted in the success of a party numbering forty eight sappers, completing 750 yards of double apron wire entanglements under shell and Machine Gun fire. During recent operations Corporal BURGESS has consistently done good work.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103 Date: Bar to Military Medal 'On night 17th/18th November, 1916, near EAUCOURT-ABBEY-GEUDECOURT, this sapper accompanied Lieutenant FILDER of the 7th Field Company Australian Engineers to mark off by tracing tape new trench 200 yards long for purposes of straightening our front line and securing a better position. This was completed under heavy Machine Gun fire. Sapper BURGESS ably assisted in extending infantry on the task in such a way that the area swept by enemy machine gun fire was connected by sapping from shell holes, instead of digging in the open whereby many casualties were saved. During these operations, Lieutenant FIDLER was wounded and Sapper BURGESS carried on the work of supervising, and when Infantry ceased work, made a complete reconnaissance of the work done, reporting in detail the state of the trenches.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189 Date: |
Other details |
War service: Western Front Military Medal & Bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal |