William George Burgess
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 Dec 1917 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 4 Nov 1983, aged 65 |
| Place of Death | Narrogin, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 7 months |
| Description | ; blue eyes ; dark hair ; abdominal scar |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Kenwick, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr John Burgess |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX15757 |
| Date of Enlistment | 13 Aug 1941 |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit/Formation | 2/10th Australian Armoured Regiment |
| Post War Details | |
Pre War
War Service
Bill enlisted at Claremont on 13 Aug 1941 and was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam. On 20 Aug 1941 he was allocated to the 2/10th Australian Armoured Regiment. On 12 Sep 1941 Bill was charged with 'Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that at Northam on 12 Sep 1941 he created a disturbance after "lights out" on returning from leave at midnight'. He was fined 10/- ($1). However, the next day he was again charged, this time with 'That while being a soldier in confinment, he at Northam on 13 Sep 1941 attempted to escape. Fined 10/- by his Commanding Officer.
On 31 Oct 1941 Bill embarked on HMT Duntroon in Fremantle for Melbourne. On 5 Dec 1941 Bill was charged with having been AWOL from 3:00pm on 13 Oct 1941 until 6:00am on 30 Oct 1941. He was awarded 16 days detention and forfeited 17 days pay and was sent to the Bendigo Detention Barracks from 5 - 22 Dec 1941. On 12 Feb 1942 he was charged with 'Using threatening and insubordinate language to a superior officer'. His sentence was a further 7 days detention. On 25 Apr 1942 he was charged with being AWOL from midnight 25 Apr 1942 until 9:30pm on 29 Apr 1942. Fined £2 ($4) and forfeited four days pay. On 20 May 1942 Bill was again in strife having been arrested by Civil Police at 5:25pm on 20 May 1942. He was charged with 1) Creating a disturbance, 2) Obsene language and 3)Resisting arrest. Awarded 14 days detention for charge 1); another 14 days for charge 2) cumulative, and 7 days concurrent or charge 3). On 22 Jun 1942 he was charged with being AWOL from midnight 13 Jun 1942 until 11:00am 21 Jun 1942. Awarded a fine of 20/- and forfeiture of 8 days pay. On 11 Jul 1942 the unit was in NSW where on 14 Aug 1942 Bill faced a District Court Martial charged with (1)Drunkeness and (2) Used violence to his Superior Officer. Found guilty of both charges he was sentenced to undergo imprisonment with hard labour for a period of 6 months and to be discharged from the Defence Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia. The sentence was confirmed on 23 Sep 1942, but he had been discharged on 6 Sep 1942
Post War
In 1947 he married Esther J M Eastwell. Electoral Roll entries: 1958 at 560 Newcastle street, North Perth, brickmaker
Notes
aka Isaac William Burgess