Robert Burgess (rugby union)
| Birth name | Robert Balderston Burgess | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 December 1890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 9 December 1915 (aged 24) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Trinity College, Dublin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Barrister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ---- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buried | Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord (II.B.63), Bailleul, France 50°44′16″N 2°44′33″E / 50.737761°N 2.742365°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service/ |  British Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Captain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | Royal Engineers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memorials | Reading room, Trinity College, Dublin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Balderston Burgess (25 December 1890 – 9 December 1915) was a
Early life
Burgess was born on 25 December 1890 to Henry Burgess, a railway manager, and his wife Agnes. He went to
Rugby career
Burgess was fast for a forward, and a strong tackler.
International appearance
| Opposition | Score | Result | Date | Venue | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa |
0–38 | Lost | 30 November 1912 | Lansdowne Road | [4] |
Military service and death
Soon after the First World War began, in November 1914, Burgess was commissioned in the Royal Army Service Corps. He was soon promoted to captain in January 1915 and served with the Royal Engineers. On 9 December 1915,[5] he was hit by a shell while cycling down the rue de Dunkerque in Armentières, northern France, and died at a casualty clearing station. He was the fourth Irish international rugby player to be killed in action in the First World War.[1] His commanding officer said of him:
The late Captain Burgess was an excellent officer, always ready for his duty day and night, and was the most popular officer in his section.[1]
He is buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord (II.B.63),[5] and is commemorated at the entrance to the reading room at Trinity College, Dublin.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e McCrery 2014, p. 111.
- ^ Robert Burgess at ESPNscrum
- ^ "Archive - Barbarian FC". barbarianfc.co.uk.
- ^ "Ireland-France 1912". ESPN UK.
- ^ a b "CWGC - Casualty Details - Robert Balderston Burgess". cwgc.org.
- ^ McCrery 2014, p. 112.
Bibliography
- McCrery, Nigel (2014). Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1473833210.
