William Burgess was the son of Richard D.S. Burgess and Margaret Fanny Burgess of Springburn, Canterbury. William was brought up in Staveley, mid-Canterbury.

Transcript of a letter written home in 1941: "Well old girl both Dick and I went over in Greece start to finish and did we see some war? Dick 0.K., I a broken ankle. Some places just a blaze of red with Flanders poppies. One night a crowd of us ran into a big brown bear. We all gave him the works with rifles, tommy guns, and Bren guns ...he got away. Greece has the world's best dressed men and world's best looking girls. NZ newspapers on the Greek show -- for sheer bulldust they take the scone. A chap is reading bits out and the roars of laughter speak for themselves."

The telegram marked Urgent from Wellington December 7 1941: "Deeply regret to inform you that your son 14858 Pte William George Burgess has been reported killed in action November 27. The Prime Minister desires me to convey to you on behalf of the Government deepest sympathy in your loss. F. Jones, Minister of Defence"

Two sons, brothers Richard Henry Burgess (14870)] and William George Albert Burgess (14858) served in WW2. William was killed.

Remembered on the Ashburton War Memorial. AWMM