Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Corporal C. Burgess, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Aisne on 14 September 1914

1914 Star (7205 Cpl. C. Burgess. R. Ir: Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (7205 Cpl. C. Burgess. R. Ir. Regt.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Burgess) extremely fine (4) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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Charles William Burgess was born around 1883 at St. Andrews, Manchester and attested for the Royal Irish Regiment at Guildford, Surrey in January 1902. He was stationed at Agra in India in 1911 with the 1st Battalion and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. Burgess would have been present for his battalion’s fighting at the Battle of Mons on 23 August where they were heavily engaged around the cemetery; at the rearguard action at Solesmes on 25 August; during the retreat at Caudry (Battle of Le Cateau) on 26 August; and at the success on the Marne, 6 to 12 September where over 540 prisoners were taken by the battalion.

Whilst advancing towards the Aisne on the morning of 13 September, the battalion came under heavy shell-fire leaving Ancienne Wood. During the afternoon, they crossed the Aisne south of Vailly again under heavy fire and proceeded to St. Pierre. Corporal Burgess was killed in action the following day as the battalion took part in the fighting around the Chateau and in the woods on the high ground north of Vailly.

He was the son of Thomas George and Eliza Ann Burgess and is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.