Gnr
Joseph Bird Burgess
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1892 |
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Place of birth: Benalla, Victoria, Australia |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Gunner |
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Service number: 11920 |
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Enlistment date: 17/7/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Field Artillery, 53rd Bty. 14th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Polygoneveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Cemetery
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The Huts Cemetery Plot: IX Row: C Grave: 8 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 15/05/1922 |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Gunner Joseph Bird Burgess served in the 53rd Battery, part of the 14th Field Artillery Brigade of the 5th Australian Division.
On October 4 1917, his unit took part in the Battle of Broodseinde. His brigade along with the 13th set up their guns between Polygoneveld and Westhoek. His brother, gunner Eric Burgess, served with him at the same gun. He ‘claimed’ his brother after he was wounded in Gallipoli and Pozières, France. He probably wanted his little brother by his side. They had to provide artillery support for the 2nd Australian Infantry Division.
The attack began with a heavy artillery barrage in the early morning. At about 7 am, the two artillery brigades were targeted by the German artillery. A German shell hit the ammunition of the gun and killed the entire crew of four soldiers, together with a soldier and an officer of another battery close by. Joseph and his brother died side-by-side and are buried next to each other at The Huts Cemetery.
On October 4 1917, his unit took part in the Battle of Broodseinde. His brigade along with the 13th set up their guns between Polygoneveld and Westhoek. His brother, gunner Eric Burgess, served with him at the same gun. He ‘claimed’ his brother after he was wounded in Gallipoli and Pozières, France. He probably wanted his little brother by his side. They had to provide artillery support for the 2nd Australian Infantry Division.
The attack began with a heavy artillery barrage in the early morning. At about 7 am, the two artillery brigades were targeted by the German artillery. A German shell hit the ammunition of the gun and killed the entire crew of four soldiers, together with a soldier and an officer of another battery close by. Joseph and his brother died side-by-side and are buried next to each other at The Huts Cemetery.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Eric Burgess
Brother |
Sources 6
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Bean C. E. W., Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 Vol. IV The A.I.F. in France 1917, ((Sydney, Angus and Robertson Ltd., 1943), p 839. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BURGESS J B). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx. Sources used |
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Headquarters, 14th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 13/41/16). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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Headquarters, 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 13/33/23). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 99. Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/156034 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=84c1dba9-3cf8-488d-873f-f4b90a8f6276 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7375520 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=39222 |