BURGESS, Bert

Bert Burgess was born and lived at Cradley. He attended Cradley C of E school and was possibly a regular soldier before 1914 in the Worcesters. He served in the 4th Battalion but transferred to the 3rd . He joined them in July 1915 on the Western Front. They were very actively engaged around Ploegsteert and Vimy and then played a major role in the opening of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. They returned for further service in October on the Ancre Heights when the rain and mud were at their worst. There were many casualties and on the 6th October Private Bert Burgess was killed in action. He is buried in Pozičres Cemetery (III T 1) and commemorated on the Cradley, Halesowen and Cradley C of E School Memorials. His brother, Thomas, was killed at Gallipoli on the 23rd November 1915.