BURGESS, Albert Reuben


No.5434, Private, Reuben Albert BURGESS
Aged 32


10th (Stockbrokers) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Killed in Action on 20th April 1917


Albert Burgess was born in Longparish, Hants(1st qtr 1885 ANDOVER 2c:219) son of William and Sarah Ann BURGESS (née PAGE). He seems to be Albert only on birth registration and census forms, otherwise he was Reuben.

1891 census...Aged 6, he was at Middleton Street, Longparish, Hants with his father William BURGESS [48] labourer; his mother Sarah Ann [44]; brothers William [16] labourer, Alfred [11] and Henry [3]; sisters Susannah [18] and Rose [1]; cousin Sidney PAGE [1]. All were born in Longparish.

1901 census...Aged 16 a carrier, he was still at Middleton Street with his mother; brothers William (threshing machine worker) and Henry (butcher's assistant); cousin Beatrice PAGE [5].

1911 census...Aged 26, a bricklayer's labourer, he was boarding at Schoolyard, Horringer with Amis and Sarah SALVAGE. His mother had returned to Longparish, to The Hut, Mill Lane, with her grandson William [2].

He married Mary Ann MUSK [2-7-1885] in 1911 in Horringer, who was still in Horringer, according to the pension card.


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
It was the Battle of Arras, and the 20th April saw the 10th Royal Fusiliers fighting around Monchy le Preux

The Bury Free Press of 12th May 1917 carried the following "Death in Action" albeit with the date seemingly incorrect:
DEATHS. Killed in Action.. Burgess --April 10th, killed in action in France R.A.Burgess, 10th Royal Fusiliers, the dearly loved husband of Mary Burgess of Horringer, aged 32 years. Sadly missed"


There are other issues, the prefix to his number should be "stk" for "Stockbrokers" rather than "spts" for "Sportsmen". Also since the battalion were in action around Monchy le Preux, if he was killed in action, it is most unlikely he would have been taken all the way to Etaples for burial. Etaples was the coastal base for many hospitals and casualty clearing stations and the cemetery there was predominantly used for those dying from wounds or disease.



photo CWGC

Reuben Burgess is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France 19:D:13A

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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