Trafford

Born at High Legh during the March quarter 1897 in the Altrincham R.D. -
ref: 8a/199, the son of James & Mary Ann Burgess (nee Parkes).   Birth
registered as "Sidney" Burgess.

1901 Census - Warrington Road, High Legh.   Son - aged: 4 - born: High
Legh.   Head of household - James Burgess - Married - aged: 49 - occ:
Concrete Maker - born: Tabley.   Also - Mary Ann Burgess - Wife - aged: 47
- born: Stockton Heath, Cheshire.  Plus 5 elder siblings. 

1911 Census - Kirkmans Green, High Legh.     Son - aged: 14 - Scholar -
born: High Legh.    Head of household - James Burgess - Married - aged: 59
- occ: Concrete Maker - born: Tabley.   Also - Mary Ann Burgess - Wife -
aged: 57 - born: Stockton Heath, Cheshire.  Plus 3 elder siblings.

Enlisted at Lymm.

The 8th (Service) Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry was
raised at Shrewsbury in September 1914, part of Kitchener's Third Army and
joined the 66th Brigade, 22nd Division. They trained at Seaford, spending
the winter in billets at Eastbourne from December returning to Seaford in
March 1915.   They moved to Aldershot in May for final training and
proceeded to France on the 5th of September, the division concentrating
near Flesselles.  In October 1915, they moved to Marseilles by train and
embarked for Salonika on the 27th.

67th Brigade, 9th Borders, 68th Field Ambulance and the Advanced Divisional
HQ saw their fisrt action in the second week of December in the Retreat
from Serbia. In 1916 the division fought in the the Battle of Horseshoe
Hill and Battle of Machukovo. In 1917 they were in action during the
Battles of Doiran.  The British infantry began its attack on the night of
24th/25th April, when 12 companies attacked the Bulgarian 2nd Brigade and
after a bloody fight managed to take the "Nerezov", "Knyaz Boris" and
"Pazardzhik" positions.   The Bulgarians counter-attacked and the British
were repulsed with heavy casualties - by 20.00 hrs the British had
retreated.

Received the two basic war medals - BWM & the VM.