Pte 22334 William Thomas Burgess

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 11th February 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.G.24

William Thomas Burgess was born in January 1894 at Liverpool and was baptised 12th March 1894 at St Peter’s Church, Liverpool. He was the second of four children and the elder son of John Bowcock Burgess and his wife Emily (nee Partington), both born in Cheshire. His parents married on the 24th November 1886 at Christ Church, Kensington, Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 85 Gladstone Road, Liverpool. His father, John, was aged 45, born in Nantwich in 1856 and is a furniture porter, his mother, Emily, is aged 34, born 1867 in Tattenhall, Cheshire and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census; Chrisey aged 10 born 1891, William Thomas aged 7, born 1894, Mary aged 4, born 1897 and adopted son Albert McCoy aged 14, born 1887 all of the children were born in Liverpool. Also at the address are Charles Stockton (brother in law) aged 35, born 1866 in Spurstow, Cheshire and he is employed as a life assurance agent and Mary Stockton (sister in law) aged 37, born 1864 in Birkenhead and she no occupation listed. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 7 Starfield Street, Liverpool. His father, John, is aged 55, and is still employed as a furniture porter and his wife Emily is aged 45, and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty four years and have had six children of which two had died. They have four children declared in the household; Chrisey aged 20, is employed as a general domestic servant, William Thomas aged 17, is a baker’s errand boy, Mary aged 14 and John aged 9 are both at school.

Prior to the outbreak of the war he had been employed at L.P.D. Co. at Wood Street.  

He enlisted on the 06th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22334. He gave his age as 22 years and 124 days and his occupation as a clerk. (There is a discrepancy over William Thomas' age on enlistment as records show he was born in 1894). He was described as being five feet three inches tall, with a 36" chest and weighed 122lbs. He was of fresh complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. His next of kin was given as Elizabeth Burgess 73 Sutton Street, Tuebrook. 

William’s medal card shows that he served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action by a shell on the 11th February 1916.

A newspaper report records that Thomas who resided with his mother at 102 Sutton Street, Green Lane, Liverpool was killed by a shell on 11^th February 1916 and prior to thewar he had been employed by L.P.D. Co, Wood Street, Liverpool and he was well known in the Stoneycroft and West Derby areas.  

He was originally buried at Maricourt Military Cemetery but after the war his body was reinterred and he now rests at Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery, Grave G 24, France.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme and other small cemeteries including MARICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY was at the South-East corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Emily.

William earned his three medals. His 1914-1915 Star was offered for auction in 2014 as part of a set of five (all Liverpool Pals), the lot price £80-£120.

William is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 11 Left. 

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