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Remembering World War I Yarmouth Connections
Name: Arthur Burgess Regimental Number: 91880 Rank: Gunner Battalion: 5th Siege Battery, Canadian Siege Artillery Date of Birth: March 17, 1891 Place of Birth: Alton, Hants, England Date of Enlistment: September 29, 1915 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Address at Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Age at Enlistment: 24 Height: 5 Feet, 8 Inches Complexion: Fresh Eye Colour: Brown Hair Colour: Dark Brown Marital Status: Single Trade: Messenger, Dominion Express Religion: Church of England Next of Kin: Mary Burgess (Mother) West Hants Lodge, Bassingstoke, Hants, England Date of Death: October 9, 1917 Cemetery: Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France Grave Reference: II. A. 2. Commemorated on Page 210 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 13 Commemorated on the Yarmouth War Memorial Arthur Burgess was a native of England and came to Canada just prior to World War I. He was an express messenger on-board the Halifax and Southwestern Railway. In this capacity he spent each Monday, Wednesday and Friday night in Yarmouth. He enlisted in Halifax on September 29, 1915 with the No 1 Overseas Heavy Battery and arrived in England on the SS Saxonia disembarking on November 30, 1915. He embarked for France on September 21, 1916 Enlgand and served with the 5th Battery Canadian Siege Artillery. Sources: Library and Archives Canada Commonwealth War Grave Commission Canadian Virtual War Memorial Additional Information: “A Monument Speaks” A Thurston; 1989 (pp 61-62)
Arthur Burgess
Return to Casualty List Return To Links Accidentally Killed:  At 3 pm October 9, Gunner Arthur Burgess  was assisting to build a stove in the artificer’s shop when he was fatally wounded by the explosion of a 106 fuse, the effects from which he died ten minutes later. Court of Enquiry convened to investigate the circumstances of his death find that he most probably lost his life while taking to pieces a 106 fuse.  In doing so, he was acting contrary to orders and was directly responsible for his own death. There is no evidence to show how the fuse got into the shop unless Gunner Burgess took it there himself which is the only reasonable supposition.  He was on duty at the time.  On others entering the shop Gunner Burgess was found to have been badly injured by an explosion and was unconsciousness when found.