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Lance Corporal John Burgess
Description
TitleLance Corporal John BurgessSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJohn was born on 29th December 1896 at Dunsandel, son of James and Helen Burgess. Before enlisting he was working as a farm hand for his father at Dunsandel. He had previous military experience having been in the Senior Cadets. He was 5ft 8in tall with a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
John enlisted on 30 May 1915 and was assigned to the Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion. He embarked on 5th February 1916 and arrived in Suez 13th March 1916. John embarked for France from Alexandria on board the Alaunia arriving 7 April 1916. He was wounded in action on 15 September 1916 suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. After initial treatment at the No 23 General Hospital at Etaples he was sent to England aboard the HS Brighton and admitted to New End Hospital Hampstead on 1 October. After treatment two months treatment there he was sent on to recuperate at Hornchurch on 30 November and then to Codford on 2 December. After Christmas there he was sent on to the Reserve group at Sling camp. It was not until 28 May that he arrived back in the Base Depot in Etaples on 28 May 1917. A fortnight later he rejoined his unit in the field. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 10 July but was killed in action less than a month later on the 6th August, aged 21. The Regimental history records that the 3rd Battalion came into the line on August 4th, taking over from the 41st Australian Battalion the sub-sector north of the River Douve, with headquarters at Septieme Barn. Conditions were dire with thigh deep mud in the trenches and very active snipers. General F. E. Johnston, while visiting the 3rd Battalion front during the early morning of August 7th, was killed by a sniper's bullet. Over the 21 days the unit was at the front line, 5 Officers and 61 other ranks were killed. John was buried in the Bethlehem Farm West Cemetery, Messines. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.First NameJohnLast NameBurgessFamilySingleSon of James and Helen BurgessDate of Birth29 December 1896Place of BirthDunsandelDate of Death6 August 1917Place of DeathYpres, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
John enlisted on 30 May 1915 and was assigned to the Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion. He embarked on 5th February 1916 and arrived in Suez 13th March 1916. John embarked for France from Alexandria on board the Alaunia arriving 7 April 1916. He was wounded in action on 15 September 1916 suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. After initial treatment at the No 23 General Hospital at Etaples he was sent to England aboard the HS Brighton and admitted to New End Hospital Hampstead on 1 October. After treatment two months treatment there he was sent on to recuperate at Hornchurch on 30 November and then to Codford on 2 December. After Christmas there he was sent on to the Reserve group at Sling camp. It was not until 28 May that he arrived back in the Base Depot in Etaples on 28 May 1917. A fortnight later he rejoined his unit in the field. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 10 July but was killed in action less than a month later on the 6th August, aged 21. The Regimental history records that the 3rd Battalion came into the line on August 4th, taking over from the 41st Australian Battalion the sub-sector north of the River Douve, with headquarters at Septieme Barn. Conditions were dire with thigh deep mud in the trenches and very active snipers. General F. E. Johnston, while visiting the 3rd Battalion front during the early morning of August 7th, was killed by a sniper's bullet. Over the 21 days the unit was at the front line, 5 Officers and 61 other ranks were killed. John was buried in the Bethlehem Farm West Cemetery, Messines. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.First NameJohnLast NameBurgessFamilySingleSon of James and Helen BurgessDate of Birth29 December 1896Place of BirthDunsandelDate of Death6 August 1917Place of DeathYpres, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryDunsandel War MemorialBethlehem Farm West CemeteryRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details30th May 1915Service Number25/939
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Lance Corporal John Burgess. Selwyn Stories, accessed 19/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/333