Name
Frederick James Burgess
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
306880
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
2/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Goffs Oak Memorial, Goff's Oak Street Name, Cheshunt Town Memorial
Pre War
Frederick James Burgess was born in Goff’s Oak/Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in 1880, son of James Burgess a, Carpenter and Deborah Burgess (nee Day).
James Burgess a widower married Deborah Day the daughter of William and Elizabeth Day of Cheshunt, Herts, at St. Jesus Chaple, Forty Hill, Enfield, Middx, on 25th December 1879.
1881 Census records Frederick (Freddy) aged (1), living with his parents at, Bury Green Farm, Cheshunt, Herts. A year later his sister Susan Burgess was born.
His father James Burgess died on 5th June 1884, in Cheshunt, aged 56.
His mother Deborah remarried in the early part of 1888, to William Ward.
1891 Census records Frederick (stepson) aged 11, living with his mother, stepfather William Ward, sister Susan Burgess (9), half-brothers, Alfred Ward (5) and John Ward (3) in, Goff’s Lane, Cheshunt.
1901 Census Frederick (21) is living with his mother, stepfather, half-brother’s Alfred (15), John (13) and half-sister May (9) in, Lucas End, Cheshunt, he was employed as a Hay Carter.
1911 Census records Frederick (32), still living at home with his mother, stepfather, two half-brothers and half-sister May in, St James Road, Goff’s Oak, Herts, he was employed as a General Labourer.
His mother Deborah died in the early part of 1914, aged 66.
Wartime Service
Frederick travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist, posted to the 1st/8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) with the service number 5195.
Later transferred to the 2nd/7th Battalion, with the service number 306880. Seeing action on the Western Front. He was reported missing and presumed killed in action on 21st March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing in France.
Additional Information
His effects of £19-17s-4d, went to half-sister May Mary Ward, she also received a gratuity payment of £30-6s-8d, in lieu of a dependents pension. In June 1997 Broxbourne Borough Council received a suggestion from the Chairman of Goff's Oak Community Association to name roads to commemorate the men who lost their lives in the two world wars who are displayed on the Goff's Oak War Memorial. It was decided that these names should be used for the large development in Hammond Street Road, this soldier has one of the surnames chosen "Burgess Close" – the reason for the names selected (as opposed to others) is not known.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Lodge
