John's Story.
John Arthur Burgess was born in Mobberley in 1898, one of eight children born to John (a labourer) and Elizabeth Burgess of Paddock Hill, Mobberley.
John attested at Knutsford 17th August 1915, he was working as a farm labourer at the time and he declared his age as 19 years and 5 months, and living at New Street, Fulshaw, Wilmslow.
John was five feet seven inches tall weighed 126lbs with a chest measurement of thirty-three and half inches. Someone posted a copy of his birth certificate to his regiment and he was found to be under combat age. He was retained until such time he became of age.
On the 19th April 1917, John embarked with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force aboard H.T “Transylvania” on the 4th May 1917 the ship was torpedoed by the German U-boat 63, south of Cape Vado, near Savona, in the gulf of Genoa. 10 crew members, 29 officers and 373 soldiers lost their lives. John is recorded as drowned at sea, age 19.
The Cheshire Roll of Honour would like to thank H.A.G Carlisle for this information on John.