Robert Burgess (rugby)

Robert Balderston Burgess (25 December 1890 – 9 December 1915) was a rugby union player, who represented Ireland. He died at Armentières during the First World War.

Robert Burgess

Birth name	Robert Balderston Burgess
Date of birth	(1890-12-25)25 December 1890
Date of death	9 December 1915(1915-12-09) (aged 24)
Place of death	Armentières
University	Trinity College, Dublin
Occupation(s)	Barrister
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1913–1914 Dublin University Football Club () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1913 Barbarians 1 (0) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1912 Ireland 1 (0)
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Military career
Buried	Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord (II.B.63), Bailleul, France (50.737761°N 2.742365°E / 50.737761; 2.742365)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Royal Engineers
Memorials	Reading room, Trinity College, Dublin

Early life

Burgess was born on 25 December 1890 to Henry Burgess, a railway manager, and his wife Agnes. He went to Portora Royal School, where he played rugby and was reputedly the best forward in the team. From there he went to Trinity College, Dublin.[1]

Rugby career

Burgess was fast for a forward, and a strong tackler.[1] He was selected to play for Ireland for a single match, on 30 November 1912 against the touring South Africans, which the visitors won 0–38.[2] From 1913 to 1914, Burgess was playing for Dublin University Football Club and was the club's honorary secretary.[1] He was invited to play for the Barbarians, alongside Alexander Jackson, the Irish centre, and former England captain Edgar Mobbs, against Newport RFC on 27 December 1913, losing 14–0.[3]

International appearance

Opposition	Score	Result	Date	Venue	Ref(s)
South Africa	0–38	Lost	30 November 1912	Lansdowne Road	[4]

Military service and death

Soon after the First World War began, in November 1914, Burgess was commissioned in the Royal Army Service Corps. He was soon promoted to captain in January 1915 and served with the Royal Engineers. On 9 December 1915,[5] he was hit by a shell while cycling down the rue de Dunkerque in Armentières, northern France, and died at a casualty clearing station. He was the fourth Irish international rugby player to be killed in action in the First World War.[1] His commanding officer said of him:

The late Captain Burgess was an excellent officer, always ready for his duty day and night, and was the most popular officer in his section.[1]

He is buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord (II.B.63),[5] and is commemorated at the entrance to the reading room at Trinity College, Dublin.[6]

References

1. McCrery 2014, p. 111.
2. Robert Burgess at ESPNscrum
3. "Archive - Barbarian FC". barbarianfc.co.uk.
4. "Ireland-France 1912". ESPN UK.
5. "CWGC - Casualty Details - Robert Balderston Burgess". cwgc.org.
6. McCrery 2014, p. 112.

Bibliography

• McCrery, Nigel (2014). Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. ISBN 1473833213.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)