Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 10th Battalion, Service No. 17772
Killed in action 20th July 1916, aged 20
Story
Born in Kippax on the 23rd March 1896, James was the son of John Burgess and Mary Jane Sparling, and lived on the High Street. His mother passed away in 1903, so James and his siblings moved to Myrtle Cottage in Ferrybridge, where he worked as a Colliery Pony Driver. His older brother George had married Sarah Elizabeth Townend in 1908, and the couple moved in with Sarah’s parents, and George brought four of his younger siblings with him, including James. Private James Burgess enlisted in Castleford
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 10th Battalion
The 10th Battalion was part of the 76th Brigade of the 3rd Division which arrived in the Somme sector early July 1916 from the North of France, and was ordered to take up position in Delville Wood on the 20th July (without reconnaissance) and to push through it from Princes Street. Reaching the wood at 2.45am, they were misled by the 53rd Brigade Guide, who was allegedly intoxicated, and were directed to Buchanan Street right into the German lines.
The Royal Welsh Fusiliers encountered heavy machine gun fire and many of them were surrounded. Close quarter fighting followed in which the Battalion sustained 228 casualties in Delville Wood, including 91 men who were killed, died of wounds or were missing in action and presumed dead. Two men in the Battalion received Victoria Crosses, Corporal Joseph John Davies and Private Albert Hill, who was from Denton Lancashire; also from the village of Denton was a Private Harry Burgess, who was killed alongside James, both being Privates in the 10th Battalion. They may have been distantly related. James’ father was born in Altcar, Lancashire, which has an army training camp. James is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, France. James’ father passed away in Kippax in 1927.
Above: Delville Wood during the First World War
Kippax Roll of Honour 