Private Frederick William Burgess
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 5814
- Unit
- 28 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Lagnicourt, France
- Date of death
- 26 March 1917
- Age
- 17
- Plaque number
- M287B
- Co-located plaques
- M287 - LT William Cook
- M287A - PTE Robert Banks
- Dedicated by
- Family on 8 June 2024
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Frederick was born in Albany, Western Australia in September 1899, to parents Charles Frederick and Emma Mary Josephine Burgess nee Baker, who were married in Albany.
He was one of nine siblings with five sisters and three brothers. He attended Noggerup State School near Donnybrook.
On leaving school he worked as an engine cleaner with the West Australian Government Railways at Midland.
Frederick enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in July 1916 at the age of sixteen. He recorded his age as eighteen to enlist.
Conducting his training at Blackboy Hill he was attached to 28 Battalion embarking overseas from Fremantle in October 1916 and arriving in England in December 1916.
In February 1917, he proceeded to France and was taken on strength with 28 Battalion.
In March 1917, the battalion moved forward into the frontline. The Germans were withdrawing, holding the village of Lagnicourt.
It was in the early morning of 26 March that Frederick advanced towards the village with his battalion. With heavy machine gun fire and continued counter attacks, the Australians managed to get to the edge of the village.
It was at 5.00pm that Frederick’s battalion was relieved, walking along a sunken road. High explosive shells exploded among the men, killing seven and wounding nine, including Frederick.
In April 1917 a Lieutenant Edmondson wrote to Frederick’s mother stating:
‘We had a heavy fight against a counterattack the day he died. He did splendid work for me and faced death many times fearlessly as he did his bit. When things were nearly over and Fritz pushed back, a big shell came in just behind us and poor Fred got a piece of it. He never spoke again’.
Private Frederick William Burgess, service number 5814 of 28 Battalion, was killed in action at Lagnicourt on 26 March 1917. He was 17 years of age.
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial France.
His plaque is placed alongside comrades who were killed on the same date in the same action, Lieutenant William Cooke and Private Robert Banks.