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The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 27th April…… Thomas Sabien Burgess was born in 1873 in the district of Grafton, NSW. (His date of birth was listed as 11th September, 1880 according to Darlinghurst Gaol records, NSW)

Newspaper Report - (Evening News, Sydney, NSW – Tuesday 11 August, 1908)

At the North Sydney Police Court Thomas Sabien Burgess, 27, was committed for trail on a charge of embezzling £2 4s 8d from James Dwain, butcher, of Neutral Bay, between July 14 and 20.

Newspaper Report – (The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW – Wednesday 2 September, 1908)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT

SENTENCED

Thomas Sabien Burgess, who had pleaded guilty on the previous day to charges of embezzlement, was sentenced to six months’ hard labour in Maitland Gaol.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 3rd May, 1916 under the name of George Taylor. He stated he was a 26 year old, single, Saddler from Lismore, NSW when he enlisted at Toowoomba, Queensland.

Private “George Taylor”, Service number 3200, embarked from Brisbane on HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 17th  November, 1916 & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 30th January, 1917.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

He was marched in to Australian Details at Fovant, Wiltshire (date not recorded) then on 24th March, 1917 he was marched in to Pioneer Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville, Wiltshire.

Private “George Taylor” was taken on strength with 4th Pioneers Training Battalion at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 4th May, 1917 & then transferred to A.A.S.C. (Australian Army Service Corps) at Fovant on 7th May, 1917.

On 13th June, 1917 Private “George Taylor” was marched out to A.S.C. Detachment at Perham Downs.

Private “George Taylor” was written up for an Offence while at Perham Downs on 31st July, 1917 - “A.W.L. from 2300 on 29/7/17 to 0800 on 30/7/1917”. This was admonished by Lt. Harrison but he forfeited a day’s pay.

He was written up for an Offence while at Perham Downs on 3rd September, 1917 - “A.W.L. from 2000 on 31/8/17 to 1600 on 1/9/1917”. He was awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks by Lt. Harrison and forfeited 2 days’ pay.

On 12th October, 1917 he was written up for an Offence while at A.A.S.C. Depot at Parkhouse  - “Neglecting to obey A.I.F. Depot Orders of 22/6/17 in that he was found at about 7 am on 7/10/17 without leave. (Duty fell to another person)”. He was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks by Lt. Cooke and forfeited 1 days’ pay.

Private “George Taylor” was written up for an Offence on 8th April, 1918 - “At Warminster A.W.L. from 2400 on 6/4/18 till 1200 on 7/4/1918”. This was admonished by Capt. Berryman but he forfeited 1 days’ pay.

On 26th April, 1918 Private “George Taylor” was sent to Sutton Veny Hospital from A.A.S.C. Training Depot at Warminster, Wiltshire.

Private “George Taylor” died at 11.30 pm on 27th April, 1918 at the Military Hospital, Sutton Veny of a fractured skull, the result of a driving accident.

Details from the Medical Report on Accidental or Self-Inflicted Injuries on 3200 Sadler, Taylor G.   A.A.S.C.:

Date of Casualty – 25th April, 1918; Nature of Injury – Compound fracture Skull – laceration Brain and Membranes. Fatal. Died 27th April, 1918.

Admitted to Hospital 26.4.18 (3.30 am) with three others who had formed members of a party in a drag accident. Returning from Trowbridge at 12.15 am., mistook the road and going downhill brake failed, and taking corner at bottom the drag overturned. On admission smelt excessively of drink, pulse full, soft and compressible, right eye infused with blood. Scalp wound near and below right parietal eminence…. ? drunk  ? head injury. Ordered scalp to be shaved and cleansed. All limbs were moved and patient could be roused with difficulty.

27.4.18 – Patient has curled up in bed, resenting any interference; not been fully conscious. Anaesthetic operation  - …..

4.30 pm – still unconscious. Pulse very poor.

11.30 pm  Died.

An Inquest was held at Sutton Veny on 29th April, 1918 – “I certify that an inquest held by me at Sutton Veny Milty. Hosp. on body of Sadler Taylor the verdict was death from fractured skull from a fall caused from accident overturning of a brake at Rudge (Sgd) T.A.P.S. Weston, Coroner.” “Not on Duty Not to blame (Sgd) Capt. Buryender.”

He was buried in St. John the Evangelist Churchyard at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England where 140 other WW1 Australian War Graves & 2 Australian Nurses are laid to rest.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/t--y.html

See Roll of Honour Circular  -True name stated to be Thomas Sabien Burgess