Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch
Coagh - Those That Served
3190   Private Robert King Holmes Burgess
Dated added: 30/12/2015
Last updated: 30/12/2015
Personal Details
Regiment/Service:
East Africa Pioneers (South African Army)
Date Of Birth:
27/05/1880
Died:
17/03/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
36
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.
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 Robert King Holmes Burgess
Cemetery Details
Cemetery:
Grave Ref:
Grave 7-B-10
CWGC Casualty:
Summary
Taveta is a small town on the Tanzanian border, 124 kilometres west of Voi on the road to Moshi. The Military Cemetery is on the western side of the town, within sight of the border post and next to the DC's office. The cemetery is almost square, set back slightly from the road and surrounded by a 4 foot paling fence. The cemetery is laid to gravel over concrete with scattered drought tolerant shrubs.
Local Memorial Details
No Memorial Name Townland
1 Coagh War Memorial Coagh
2 Coagh Soldiers and Sailors War Memorial 2013 - WW1 - Panel 1 Coagh
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Burgess family Does not list Robert as living with the family at house 18 in Hanover St, Coagh
2 1911 Census lists Burgess family Does not list Robert as living with the family at house 17 in Hanover St, Coagh
3 Brother - Charles Burgess Also served in the the war
4 Brother - Harold Burgess Also served in the the war
5 Cookstown War Dead Full details on Cookstown War Dead
6 Imperial War Museum Listed on the Royal School Dungannon WW1 Memorial
Coagh & District in WW1
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