Service Details
Name:
BURGES
Given Name:
EDWARD TRAVERS
Initials:
E T
Rank:
Major
Other Casualties of this Rank
Regiment:
South African Infantry
Other Casualties from this Regiment
Unit:
1st Regt.
Other Casualties from this Unit
Unit 2:
"D" Coy.
Other Casualties from this Unit
Former Regiment:
formerly 9th Mounted Brigade South African Mounted Rifles
Date of Death:
1916-07-18
Other Casualties on this Date
Date of Birth:
1877-08-13
Age:
38
Cause of Death:
Killed in action, at Delville Wood. Clive Featherstone (1st Bn B Coy) was still holding on in Strand Street. With him was Capt Percy John Jowett, 29 (1st Bn A Coy). Featherstone recalled: "Major Burges sent his orderly to call me to instruct me about a withdrawal. Captain Jowett of C Company went with me. We found that Major Burges had been killed by another shell bursting over his head"
Decorations:
Distinguished Conduct Medal, Mentioned in Despatches
Citations:
LG Sup 22 August 1918 - "For distinguished service in the Field and in connection with the campaign in German South-West Africa, 1914-15"
Additional
Information:
Son of the late Daniel Travers Burges and Alice Sarah Burges, of Bristol; husband of Charlotte Burges, of Highland Cottage, Clevedon, Somerset, England. Edward came to Winchester College from the Reverend C.R. Carr's school at Exmouth in September 1890 and was in B House, Moberly's. He was a House Prefect in 1895 and 1896, and in his last two years he played in OTH. XV and stood On Dress for OTH VI. He left Winchester in the summer of 1896 and went to South Africa, where he enlisted in the Cape Mounted Rifles. During the South African War he was selected as Regimental Sergeant Major of the newly-formed Border Horse, and won the D.C.M and his commission for gallantry in action. Later he acted as Assistant Provost Marshal in the Stellenbosch district and raised and trained a special Service Squadron of Colonials. Soon after the conclusion of peace he was appointed to the Cape Police and became a Sub-Inspector in the Mounted Branch. Burges took part in the engagement which resulted in the killing of Jacob Marengo, a leader of the revolt against German rule in German South West Africa (now Namibia). On the outbreak of war he was appointed Adjutant and afterwards Brigade Major of a detachment of the Imperial Light Horse, and took part in General Botha's campaign in South West Africa. At the conclusion of the fighting there he volunteered for the first South African contingent to sail for Europe. He served through the campaign against the Senussi in the western desert of Egypt as Adjutant to the 1st South African Infantry, was promoted Major and went with his battalion to France. Commemorated on The Parish of Clevedon Saint Andrew Roll of Honour. Commemorated on the Roll of Honour at All Saints, Clevedon.
Commemoration
Country:
France
Other Casualties commemorated in France
Locality:
Somme
Other Casualties commemorated in Somme
Cemetery:
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Other Casualties commemorated in this Cemetery
Grave Reference:
Pier and Face 4 C.

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