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John William Burgess (1874-1916)


South Shields man served as a trimmer in the Royal Naval Reserve on HM Trawler Tervani


John William Burgess was born on 22 July 1874. His Father was Henry Burgess (1853-1911), a house painter originally from Ipswich, Suffolk. His mother was Isabella Jack (1851-1926), a South Shields labourer’s daughter. They had a total of 12 children with seven surviving into adulthood giving John three sisters and three brothers.

The Burgess family lived in 118 Drake Street, South Shields at the time of the 1881 census. In 1891 they were living at 9 Cornwallis Square, South Shields and John was working in his father’s trade as a painter. John married Catherine Ann Felstead in 1896. She was born in Jarrow in 1877 and was a coal trimmer’s daughter.

At the time of the 1901 census the family lived in 182 William Street, South Shields and John was working as a dry dock labourer. At the time of the 1911 census they were living at 147 East Adderley Street, South Shields and John was described as working as a labourer painter. By this time they had five children made up of four girls and one boy.

John was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve with the service number 1067/ST and the rating of a trimmer. In 1916 he was serving on HM Trawler Tervani. The trawler suffered a mine explosion in the North Sea off Orford Ness, Suffolk on 5 December 1916. She was lost with all of her crew of 15, including John. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

John William Burgess was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One.

Birth date: 22-Jul-1874

Death date: 05-Dec-1916

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 118 Drake Street, South Shields (1881 census)
9 Cornwallis Square, South Shields (1891 census)
182 William Street, South Shields (1901 census)
147 East Adderley Street, South Shields (1911 census)

Employment: House Painter (1891 census)
Dry dock labourer (1901 census)
Labourer painter (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Henry W Burgess (1953-1911), Isabella Burgess nee Jack (1852-1926)
Siblings: Mary E Burgess (1875), Henry Burgess (1877), Isabella Burgess (1880), Sarah Burgess (1881), James Burgess (1888), William Burgess (1893)
Spouse: Catherine Ann Burgess nee Felstead (1877-1961) subsequently Murray
Children: Isabella Burgess (1898), Janet Burgess (1900), Alice Burgess (1905), John Burgess (1907), Andrewina Burgess (1911)

Military service:

1067/ST
Trimmer
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Trawler Tervani

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham


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