BURGESS, Charles Chesworth
| Service Numbers: | 1885, 1855 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Oxley, Queensland Australia , 9 May 1883 |
| Home Town: | Lamington, Scenic Rim, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 11 April 1939, aged 55 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1885, 25th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 1885, 25th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 1885, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 2 Jun 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 14 Nov 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1855, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, GSW to head, severe | |
| 13 Aug 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1855, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, 1st MD due to head wound and shell shock |
Logan Village Museum
Charles and his brother Vernon (Service Number 1612)is listed on the Logan Village Museum Nominal Roll for the ANZACS. He was born 9th May 1883 in Oxley Brisbane. He died 11th April 1939 in Brisbane and is buried in Toowong Cemetery.
His parents were Thomas Chesworth and Jane nee Gilbert.
He is descended from the Pioneer family Burgess.
Submitted 15 May 2016 by Coralyn Cowin
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From the Gallipoli Association
Private Charles Chesworth Burgess, 25th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements then 2nd Pioneers from Christmas Creek, Queensland.
Born on 9 May 1883 at Oxley, the 32 year old labourer enlisted on 23 June 1915. His unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT Kyarra on 16 August 1915.
Private Burgess served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He received a severe gun shot wound to the head on 14 Nov 1916 and was transferred to hospitals in England for treatment before returning to Australia 9 May 1917, where he was discharged.
Private Burgess became known as 'The Hermit of Glen Lamington'. A recluse, living in two caves near the junction of the two branches of Christmas Creek.
Suffering from shellshock and other undefined physiological trauma caused by the wound to the head, Burgess had returned home only to be denied assistance in resettling and treatment.
He took up residence in the caves on his property, living a simple subsistence lifestyle and growing his own vegetarian food.
He prescribed to principles of non-violence as promoted by The House of David, an American religious movement, and grew his hair and beard long.
His experiences at war and on return undoubtedly distanced him from his home community.
But, the Stinson Plane disaster in 1937 brought Burgess briefly into contact with people again. He used his bushcraft to help with the search and it is reported that he 'working willingly on the arduous task of cutting a path through the tangled vines'.
Private Burgess died on 11/4/1939 age 55 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane.
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