Lance Corporal Edwin Patrick Burgess
Survivor of WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Edwin Patrick Burgess was born at Valleyfield, Quebec, on 10 February 1911. He enlisted at Montreal on 9 May 1940 as D-82122 and served initially with The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. He was sent to Newfoundland in 1940 and later served in the United Kingdom, Italy and Northwest Europe. In April 1941 he underwent surgery in England for a recurrent right inguinal hernia. He qualified as a clerk and motorcyclist and later served with 7 Field Security Section, performing intelligence work as an investigator and interrogator. He held the rank of Lance Corporal during his later overseas service. His first wife, Lilly Sheridan Burgess, died at Valleyfield on 15 September 1944. He married Mary Fielden at Todmorden, Lancashire, on 3 July 1945. His awards included the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939-45. He returned to Canada in 1945 and was discharged at Montreal South on 10 September 1945 on demobilization. Edwin Patrick Burgess died at Queen Mary Veterans Hospital, Montreal, on 9 May 1970 after a brief illness.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
D-82122
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Canadian Army
Regiment:
Canadian Intelligence Corps / Field Security
Battalion:
7 Field Security Section
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Valleyfield, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
29 years 2 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
34 years 7 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
59 years 2 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Clerk
Next of Kin:
Mrs. Mary Burgess, wife, 98 Oak Avenue, Todmorden, Yorkshire
Address at Enlistment:
36 East Park Street, Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
United Church of Canada
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 1.0 in / 155 cm
Weight:
165 lbs / 75 kg
Chest:
34.0 in / 86 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Married
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal South, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1950 days in service
Buried at:
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Lance Corporal |
Canadian Intelligence Corps / Field Security |
Canadian Army |
7 Field Security Section |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Acting Lance Corporal |
Canadian Intelligence Corps / Field Security |
Canadian Army |
7 Field Security Section |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Canadian Intelligence Corps / Field Security |
Canadian Army |
7 Field Security Section |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Lance Corporal |
Canadian Intelligence Corps / Field Security |
Canadian Army |
7 Field Security Section |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Acting Lance Corporal |
Canadian Intelligence Corps / Field Security |
Canadian Army |
7 Field Security Section |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada |
Canadian Army |
1st Battalion |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
1939-45 Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Italy Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
France and Germany Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Defence Medal |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-45 |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Service Badge, General Service Class no. C19286 |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1911-02-10 — Born — Valleyfield, Quebec
1940-05-09 — Enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force — Montreal, Quebec
1940-05-24 — Posted to 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada — Montreal, Quebec
1940-06 — Sent to Newfoundland for wartime service — Newfoundland, Canada
1940-10 — Arrived in England for overseas service — England, United Kingdom
1941-03-13 — Admitted with recurrent right inguinal hernia — No. 15 Canadian General Hospital, England
1941-03-28 — Transferred to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital — Marston Green, England
1941-04-01 — Right inguinal herniotomy performed — No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, Marston Green, England
1941-04-24 — Discharged from No. 1 Canadian General Hospital after uncomplicated recovery — Marston Green, England
1941-04-25 — Admitted to Canadian Medical Centre for postoperative follow-up — Bordon, Hampshire, England
1941-04-29 — Discharged from Canadian Medical Centre to No. 1 Convalescent Depot; convalescence recommended until 1 July — Bordon, Hampshire, England
1941-05-30 — Discharged from No. 1 Convalescent Depot and returned to duty — Witley, England
1941-06-18 — Granted fourteen days privilege leave with warrant — United Kingdom
1941-09-15 — Specialist / trade-pay appointment recorded — United Kingdom
1941-09-21 — Placed on command for trade / course-related duty — United Kingdom
1941-10-25 — Temporary attachment for duty recorded — United Kingdom
1941-10-30 — Reverted to permanent rank of Private — United Kingdom
1942-10-26 — Qualified Clerk “C” — United Kingdom
1943-05-30 — Reverted to regimental rates of pay as Clerk C — United Kingdom
1943-05-31 — Taken on strength in reinforcement sequence pending transfer to field-security duties — United Kingdom
1943-07-27 — Remustered / trade-status entry associated with Clerk C — United Kingdom
1943-08-26 — Struck off strength to 7 Field Security Section — United Kingdom
1943-08-27 — Taken on strength of 7 Field Security Section and appointed Acting Lance Corporal — United Kingdom
1943-08-27 — Qualified as Motorcyclist — United Kingdom
1943-10-26 — Struck off strength Canadian Army (United Kingdom) on embarkation — United Kingdom
1943-10-27 — Taken on strength Canadian Army (Mediterranean) — Mediterranean theatre
1943-11-08 — Disembarked with 7 Field Security Section — Central Mediterranean Force
1943-11-27 — Became Lance Corporal — Central Mediterranean Force
1944-03-15 — Received a severe reprimand with stoppage of pay — Central Mediterranean Force
1944-03-16 — Reverted from Lance Corporal to Private at his own request — Central Mediterranean Force
1944-06-01 — Appointed Acting Lance Corporal — Central Mediterranean Force
1944-06-10 — Became Lance Corporal — Central Mediterranean Force
1944-09-15 — First wife, Lilly Sheridan Burgess, died — Valleyfield, Quebec
1945-02-23 — Embarked from Italy; struck off strength Canadian Army (Central Mediterranean Force) — Italy
1945-02-25 — Disembarked in France with 7 Field Security Section — France
1945-04-12 — Repatriation-related posting / attachment recorded — Northwest Europe
1945-06-23 — Struck off strength to 147 Canadian Depot / Military District No. 4 — United Kingdom
1945-06-24 — Taken on strength from 7 Canadian Field Security Section in repatriation sequence — United Kingdom
1945-06-27 — Attached to No. 2 Canadian Repatriation Depot from 147 Canadian Depot / Military District No. 4 — United Kingdom
1945-07-01 — Permission-to-marry authority recorded in service sheet, authorizing marriage on or after 18 July 1945 — United Kingdom
1945-07-03 — Married Mary Fielden at the Anglican Church — Todmorden, Lancashire, England
1945-07-30 — Struck off strength overseas for return to Canada — United Kingdom to Canada
1945-07-31 — Taken on strength of No. 4 District Depot after return from overseas — Montreal South, Quebec
1945-09-10 — Discharged on demobilization under Routine Order 1029 para. 5 — Montreal South, Quebec
1970-05-09 — Died at Queen Mary Veterans Hospital after a brief illness — Montreal, Quebec
Notes
Completed three years of high school (Grade 11). Before enlistment worked about three years for Liquid Carbonic Co. as a shipper/storekeeper and about two years as a semi-professional baseball and hockey player; he also worked as a bookkeeper/payroll clerk for Montreal Cottons in Valleyfield. He spoke English, French and Italian. His postwar employment plan was to return to office work, with interest in becoming a university-trained physical and health instructor.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Valleyfield
Request confirmation number EA2026_0174020
Additional Service Notes
Enlisted at Montreal on 9 May 1940 and served initially with The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. He was sent to Newfoundland in June 1940 and reached England in October 1940. In March-April 1941 he was treated for a recurrent right inguinal hernia, undergoing right inguinal herniotomy at No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, Marston Green, on 1 April before convalescence at Bordon and No. 1 Convalescent Depot. He qualified Clerk C and as a motorcyclist and transferred into 7 Field Security Section. He was appointed Acting Lance Corporal effective 27 August 1943 and Lance Corporal effective 27 November. He embarked from the United Kingdom in October 1943, disembarked with 7 Field Security Section in the Central Mediterranean Force on 8 November, and served in Italy. He reverted to Private at his own request on 16 March 1944, was reappointed Acting Lance Corporal on 1 June, and became Lance Corporal again on 10 June 1944. He served as an investigator/interrogator with Canadian intelligence and field-security elements. He embarked from Italy on 23 February 1945 and disembarked in France on 25 February for Northwest Europe service. In June 1945 he left 7 Canadian Field Security Section for the Canadian repatriation system, passing through 147 Canadian Depot / Military District No. 4 and No. 2 Canadian Repatriation Depot in the United Kingdom before returning to Canada at the end of July. He was discharged at Montreal South on 10 September 1945. War-service gratuity records confirm Lance Corporal as his final rank.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
At enlistment his wife was Lilly Sheridan Burgess; she died at Valleyfield, Quebec, on 15 September 1944. As a widower, Burgess applied on 20 April 1945 for permission to marry Mary Fielden of 98 Oak Avenue, Todmorden, Lancashire, England. Higher authority dated 18 May 1945 specified that permission was granted for the marriage to take place on or after 18 July 1945. Nevertheless, the casualty/service sheet records that Burgess married Miss Mary Fielden at Todmorden on 3 July 1945, and a Canadian Legion letter dated 18 November 1945 independently reports the same marriage date and place. The marriage date of 3 July 1945 is therefore accepted as the documented event, with the fact that it preceded the authorized date retained as an administrative anomaly. Postwar repatriation correspondence identifies Mrs. Mary Burgess as his dependent and records her travel to Canada to join Burgess and his parents at 36 East Park Street, Valleyfield. The 1970 obituary supplied by the user names Mrs. E. Burgess and sons Fred and Billy.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-10-01 01:01:44
by: marc
