John Bradney Burgess (1913 - 1942)

Born 24 Mar 1913 in Saint Peters, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 29 in At Sea

Biography

John Burgess was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

John Burgess died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

John Bradney Burgess was born in 1913 at St Peters, NSW, the son of Irvin Ross Burgess and his wife Winifred.

John enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Paddington, NSW on 18 Jun 1940 as a Gunner (NX34493). At the time he was single, a textile worker and was living at Kings Cross, NSW. He had brown hair and blue eyes.

He was allocated to the Royal Australian Artillery. On 09 Sep 1940 he was transferred to 22 Anti Tank Coy. On 09 Aug 1941 he was transferred to 17 Anti Tank Battery (less C Coy).

He embarked in Sydney on 09 Sep 1941 and disembarked in Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea from the "Zealandia" on 30 Sep 1941.

On 01 Oct 1941 he was classified as a Driver Mechanic Group III.

After the Japanese invaded on 23 Jan 1942, he was captured at Massawa and became a Prisoner of War, initially held in Rabaul. Japanese records have him as a Driver. He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

• Birth - NSW BDM Birth index - BURGESS JOHN B; 8279/1913; IRVIN R; WINIFRED F; NEWTOWN

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BURGESS JOHN BRADNEY : Service Number - NX34493 : Date of birth - 24 Mar 1913 : Place of birth - ST PETERS NSW : Place of enlistment - PADDINGTON NSW : Next of Kin - BURGESS IRWIN - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4929346

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1691670

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615443/john-bradney-burgess/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/621794

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/burgess-john-bradney/