Name
Leonard Oliver Burge
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/07/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
STR/41
Royal Fusiliers *1
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE
III. E. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
DEARLY LOVED FOURTH SON OF WILLIAM A.& GRACE BURGE
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Potters Bar memorials, Sjt L O & Captain S Burge, Enfield, Greater London, 10th Battn, Royal Fusiliers Book of Remembrance WW1. City of London
Pre War
Leonard Oliver Burge was born in 1893 in Potters Bar to William Alfred Burge, a stockbroker, and Grace (nee Scott). On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Norah C (born 1884), Winifred (born 1885), Harold E (born 1890), Lionel Oliver, Philip (born 1895, and Edward C (born 1897) were living at High Road, South Mimms.
On the 1911 Census Oliver was listed at School House Abingdon as a boarder, his parents were living at the Close, Cold Norton, Essex.
Wartime Service
Oliver volunteered for the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment on 4 Jan 1915 joining as Private with 10th (Service) Battalion. This Battalion was formed in Aug 1914 although it had then yet to be adopted fully as Official. It was informally known at ‘the Stockbrokers’ hence the service number for Oliver of STK/41 (not as transcribed in some documents as STR/41). The Battalion allocated to 111 Brigade, 37 Division. Oliver went to France on 31 Jul 1915 with this Division. He was promoted to Acting Serjeant on 23 May 1916, he rose from lance Corporal on 18 Jan 1916.
Oliver, along with the Battalion were attached to 34 Division from 6 Jul to 22 Aug 1916 taking part in the Battle of Albert (1 – 13 Jul 1916) as part of the Battles of the Somme. Oliver was killed in action in 11 Jul 1916 in the area of La Boiselle – Contalmaison during this phase of the Battle.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £11 10s and arrears of £5 7s 11d was paid to his father. His Brother Philip Scott also served in 10 Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, commissioned in Royal Flying Corps as Captain and was killed in action 24 Jul 1918.
His father, Mr. W.A. Burge, 2, Copthall Buildings, London, E.C.2. ordered his headstone inscription: "DEARLY LOVED FOURTH SON OF WILLIAM A.& GRACE BURGE".
*1 More correctly Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 10 (Service) Battalion (Known informally as the Stockbrokers.).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
