Photo: Imperial War Museum

Newcastle Daily Chronicle 05/08/1916

Medal Index Card

St. John's Churchyard Burnhope

Photo: Alan Rae Barr and Stroud War Memorial

In St John's Churchyard Burnhope is a family headstone which reads:-

In
Loving Memory
of
William Alderson
who died at the
School House Burnhope
February 14th 1892
aged 74 years
Also
Captain W.H.L. Burgess B.Sc.
M in D, 1st Cameronians
Grandson of the above
Born 5th November 1886
Killed at High Wood
The Somme 20th July 1916

"For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them
also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him"

William Henry Langdon Burgess was born in Lanchester, Durham, in 5th November 1886, son of Henry Langdon Burgess [born 15th March 1852, Whitechapel, London, baptised 4th April 1852 at St Mary's St Mary, Whitechapel High Street Middlesex, {son of John, a labourer, and Mary Burgess, who both resided at Prince's Street, Whitechapel}. Henry was a pupil teacher in 1871 at Industrial Schools (White Chapel), Forest Gate, West Ham] He married Anna Maria Alderson, [born Hunwick 1857], in 1881.

By 1891 Henry was headmaster at Burnhope Colliery School, and living with Anna Maria, and son William at the School House was William Alderson, father-in-law, Widower age 73 born 1818, a Mole Killer.

In 1901 Henry and Anna Maria were still residing at the School House, Burnhope, Lanchester, Durham, with a servant Annie Ward, Single aged 16, born 1885 in Craghead, Durham, General Servant (Domestic).

William was a 14 year old boarder with Felix Cruse an organist and Teacher of Music at Stockton on Tees.

William gained a BSc from the Armstrong College at the University of Durham and attended the University of Glasgow Officer Training Corps in 1913 and 1914. During this time he worked as an ordnance engineer at Barr & Stroud (now Thales) in Glasgow, before joining the army.

'Barr & Stroud Limited was a pioneering Scottish optical engineering firm, initially formed in 1913 in Anniesland, Glasgow. They played a leading role in the development of modern optics, including rangefinders, for the Royal Navy and for other branches of British Armed Forces during the 20th century. There was a non-military arm of the company which made medical equipment, like photo-coagulators and electronic filters, some of which were used by the BBC. The company and its intellectual property passed through Pilkington group to Thales Optronics. The factory is now located on the south side of Glasgow at:- 1 Linthouse Road, Glasgow G51 4 BZ.'

He received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 21st August 1914 from the Glasgow Officer Training Corps to the 3rd Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and was confirmed in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in August 1914, later rising to the rank of Captain.

William served in France from Christmas 1914 until his death.Captain William Henry Langdon Burgess was killed in action at High Wood in the Battle of the Somme on the 20th July 1916, aged 29, and is commemorated in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, north east of Amiens and north of the River Somme. His name is on Special Memorial 25, signifying that his burial is unidentified but he is known or believed to be among those buried in the cemetery.

William was Mentioned in Despatches for his actions, which entitled him to an emblem [oak leaf] on his medals. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, as well as the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, which were claimed by his father Henry, in 1922, as were his effects. His estate was also passed to his father.

In addition to appearing on the University of Glasgow memorial, William Burgess is remembered in a number of places, including his home village and in Glasgow. William is remembered in Burnhope on the village war memorial and in the Book of Remembrance and War Memorial in the Church of St John the Evangelist.

His family commissioned a commemorative vase in his name, which was dedicated in May 1925 and can be found within the Church.

At Armstrong College, Durham University (now Newcastle University), Burgess is named on the War Memorial and his name appears in the Roll of Service book for Durham University. The War Memorial at Barr & Stroud (now Thales) in Linthouse Road, Glasgow where Burgess worked as an ordnance engineer bears his name. A photograph of William as a 2nd Lieutenant in the trenches can be found on the Imperial War Museum website, as part of the Major Robert Cotton Money Collection.

With thanks to the University of Glasgow

Rev. David Youngson has submitted the following:

Captain William Henry Langdon BURGESS
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
3rd Battalion attached 1st Battalion

The only son of Henry Langdon Burgess and Anna Maria Burgess of Cowdray House, Shincliffe Colliery, Durham. He was born at Lanchester, County Durham and studied at Durham University where he obtained a B.Sc. and was an Ordnance Engineer. He was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 26th January 1915) and was killed in action at High Wood during the Battle of the Somme on the 20th July 1916 aged 29. He is Remembered on the Special Memorial in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France, Special Memorial 25.

The Northern Echo 05/09/1919 contains the following report:

Gift for Headmaster

Mr. H.L. Burgess, who has just closed a long career as headmaster of Burnhope Colliery Council School, has been presented by the school staff with an ebony walking stick, with ivory handle.

Mr. and Mrs. Burgess have been notified that it is intended to erect memorials at Glasgow and Hamilton in memory of between 9,000 and 10,000 Cameronians who fell in the war. Amongst the number is their only son, Captain W.H.L. Burgess, 1st Battalion.

Anna Maria died June 1927 at Shincliffe. In 1939, Henry was residing at Cowdray House, Shincliffe, Durham, England. He died in 1942.

William Henry Langdon Burgess is remembered at Burnhope on B153.01, B153.03, B153.05 and B153.06, at Durham in D47.151 page 14, and at Newcastle on NUT063

He is also remembered at the University of Glasgow on their Roll of Honour

University of Glasgow website
Armstrong College website
The CWGC entry for Captain Burgess