Jan 22, 1895

Born at Eastbourne, Sussex, England

Mar 3, 1910

Embarked the SS Canada at Liverpool as part of a group of Home Children

Mar 11, 1910

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded to Hamilton Ontario

Nov 18, 1915

Medical examination performed at Georgetown Ontario by the MO (Medical Officer) of the 76^th Battalion

Nov 24, 1915

Attested into the 76^th Battalion at Barrie Ontario 

Ø      Number 142546

Ø      Current address given as Glen Williams Ontario

Ø      Next of kin given as George Burgess, brother, c/o Mr Goldland, Waterdown Ontario

o       He made a pay assignment of $20 per month to Mrs HS Wilson, foster mother, RR #1 Milton Ontario

o       George Burgess changed his address to read Dundas Ontario at a later date

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø      Claimed to be a current member of the Militia, but no Regiment was given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

Ø      Assigned to “C” Company

Apr 23, 1916

Embarked the RMS Empress of Britain at Halifax Nova Scotia

May 5, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to the Sandling Camp near Hythe

Jun 28, 1916

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Jun 29, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp at Havre France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jul 12, 1916

Left the CBD to join the Battalion

Jul 13, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion at the Chippawa Camp.  The 21^st Battalion was participating in a Battalion Sports Day.  It was the same day the Commanding Officer, L/Col Wm St Pierre Hughes announced that he was leaving the Battalion to take a promotion to Brig-Gen and take Command of a Brigade in the 4^th Division

Apr 9, 1917

Pte Burgess was wounded during the advance on Vimy Ridge.  He was given first aid at the Regimental Aid Post then transported to the No 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) where he succumbed to those wounds.

Ecoivres Military Cemetery
Mont St-Eloi, France 

Post war, the following were sent to his brother, George Burgess at Dundas Ontario, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, the Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll.  There was no Memorial Cross issued as his mother had predeceased him and he was not married

Jul 20, 1965

A letter was sent from the Estates Officer to the Judge Advocate General, Dept of National Defence at Ottawa, stating it was returning a cheque in the amount of $37.95 which is the remainder of the Estate of Pte William Burgess which it could not legally hold.  I could see no indication in the file that this amount was ever forwarded to a family member.