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The information displayed here is at the time of death.
William was born in Lanchester, County Durham in 1887. He was the only son of Henry Langdon Burgess and Anna Maria Burgess of Cowdray House, Shincliffe Colliery, Durham.
He appears to have studied at Armstrong College at some point, but his exact connection to the College is unclear. He also studied at the University of Glasgow, where he was awarded a BSc.
He was employed as an ordinance engineer before joining the army. William joined the The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 3rd Battalion, and was also attached to the 1st Battalion.
William was killed on 20th July 1916 aged 29. He fell when his company were involved in fighting at High Wood during the Battle of the Somme.
The School House, Burnhope, County Durham (place of residence 1891 Census)
3 Bridge Road, Stockton on Tees (place of residence 1901 Census)
William is buried at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in France, close to the site of the Battle of the Somme.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project
Newcastle University Archives (The University of Durham Roll of Service 1914 – 1919)
UK Census registers, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)
UK Military Service Records, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)
University of Glasgow First World War Roll of Honour
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