Regiment/Service:
East Africa Pioneers (South African Army)
Date Of Birth:
27/05/1880
Died:
17/03/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Summary
Robert King Holmes Burgess was the eldest son of Dr. Robert Burgess, JP. Coagh. He was educated at the Academical Institution in Derry and Royal School, Dungannon. He served his apprenticeship in Messrs Coombe, Barbour & Coombe Engineering Works in Belfast. At the outbreak of the Boer War he volunteered for the Imperial Yeomanry and was sent to Rhodesia, seeing action at Mafeking. At the end of the Boer War he received the Queen’s Medal with four clasps which was presented by King Edward VII, At the outbreak of the First World War he again volunteered, joining the East Africa Pioneer Company. He was wounded in action on 11th March 1917 when the Imperial Forces routed the Germans at Taveta. He later succumbed to his wounds.