Oscar Henry Burgess

WWI Roll of Honour

By Lynette Wray

Oscar Henry Burgess

Military History:        

Regiment:                              
Royal Field Artillery

Rank:                                     
Gunner

Service Number:                    
156713

Date of Enlisting:                            
2.2.1916

Date of death:                        
Not known

Cemetery/ Memorial:            

UK Cemetery/Memorial:      
St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

Oscar enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery on 2nd February 1916 at Hitchin.  Having served first with the 6th and 34th Brigades he was posted to France in 1917 with the British Expeditionary Force as a Gunner.  A report in the Royston Crow on 12 April 1918 states that Oscar had been wounded by shrapnel on 21st March but that he was in hospital and is making good progress. It is thought Oscar survived the War.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Family History:

Date of Birth:               
2.1.1898

Birth Place:                            
Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Residence:
Not known

Marriage:                     
Not known

Oscar was the only son of James Burgess and Clara (nee Green, second wife), born on 2nd January 1898 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

His military records show that at the time of enlisting he was a bricklayer. 

It is not known if he married, nor when he died.

Oscar's half-brother Albert was severely wounded in the head and arm during the War but it is thought he survived.

Commentary:

Royston Crow 12 Apr 1918  Gunner Oscar Burgess, son of Mr & Mrs James Burgess, wounded by shrapnel, progressing.