Burgess, Frederick
No.1055 – Private Frederick Burgess – 11th Battalion AIF
Frederick Burgess was born in Fremantle WA to James and Mary Burgess on the 8th June 1884. He was one of a few siblings with Henry (born 1877), George (1886), Mary (1888) and Thomas (1892). The family initially lived in South Terrace and after attending the local state school, Frederick went on to become a Driver. On the 16th September 1914, Fred offered his services to the AIF and the medical examiner found him to be 5 feet & 5 ¼ inches in height; weight of 134 lbs; chest measurement of 37 ½ inches; dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. His religious denomination was Methodist.
Frederick was originally allotted to the 1st reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF, though this was soon changed and he was transferred to C Company. During training at Blackboy Hill Camp Fred went absent without leave three times, on the 20th, 22nd & 27th October 1914. The first two times he was fined 5/- but the third time incurred 10/- and Fred does not seem to have gone AWOL again.
On the 2nd November 1914, the 11th Battalion embarked from Fremantle on the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” and made their way to Egypt. After arriving there, the men set up camp at Mena near Cairo. The men of the 11th trained in Egypt till March 1915, when they were sent to Lemnos Island to prepare for a landing on the Turkish coast.
On April 25th 1915 the Australian 3rd Brigade, of which the 11th Battalion was a part, landed on the Gallipoli peninsula. It is unknown at what stage of the first day that Frederick was wounded, but he was taken back out to the ships for evacuation to Hospital. It is not known the nature of Frederick’s wound but when he arrived in Egypt four days later he was admitted to Hospital but on the 29th April he died of his wounds.
Frederick Burgess was buried in Chatby Military Cemetery Egypt.