BURGESS, Cecil James

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             2nd Infantry Brigade
                                             10th Battalion - Canadians
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps.
SERVICE NO:                   624309
RESIDENCE:                    Vermillion – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            September 2, 1882
                                             London - Ontario   
DATE OF DEATH:           November 18, 1917             35 years     2 months
CEMETERY:                     Etaples Military Cemetery – Etaples –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             XXX     L     23A
PARENT:                           Mrs. Agnes Ross – Hensall - Ontario
Occupation:                        Baker                                    Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:          Vermillion – Alberta – January 7, 1916 into 151st Overseas Battalion.
Enlistment Age:          33 years     4 months

Private Burgess in England on October 13, 1916. The day of arrival he transferred to the 9th Battalion on the St. Martin Plain - Kent. On November 27th he transferred to the 10th Battalion. Private Burgess entered France on November 29, 1916 joining his unit in the field on December 3, 1916. His unit is called the “Fighting Tenth”
In April 1917, Private Burgess spent some time under medical care for influenza and then returns to his unit in the field on September 10, 1917.
The “Fighting Tenth” was involved in the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele in the campaign known as the Third Battle of Ypres in the Ypres Salient. There had been three planned previous advances and November 10th was the final advance of the 
1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions. This was to be a small but fiinal advance for the village.
In less than three hours the Canadians had achieved all of their assigned objectives. Thay had advancved to gain control of any remaining high ground north of the village of Passchendaele and Hill 52. 
On November 11, 1917 the weather was fair with showers and winds were from the north-east. At dawn the line advanced over the crest of the ridge at Passchendaele so that the Battalion were able to view the complete area in front of them.
At about 07:30 am an enemy party numbering about 25 Infantry was seen approaching the lines and they were allowed to get to within 50 yards before they were met by the fire from the Battalion. This advance by the enemy was over before it began.
The enemy aircraft were very active the whole of the day and they made a number of very low level attacks using their guns and dropping bombs onto the infantry below. This is where we believe Private Burgess was seriously wounded in the back. He was provided with immediate attention and on November 14th he was reported to be dangerously ill. He was now at No. 6 British Red Cross Hospital in Etaples. Seven days later Private Burgess died from the wounds he received in action.