Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Donald’s father Cleve Burgess went through campaigns In Gallipoli and in France in World War 1 in the 20th Battalion, 5th Brigade 1st AIF
.
When World War 2 broke out young Donald stated his intention to join the army. His father having experienced life in the trenches encouraged his son to join the navy; where he would have a warm bed, clean clothes, a hot meal, and no trench foot!

Donald dutifully joined the Royal Australian Navy as a stoker on the cruiser HMAS Perth. On the 1st March 1942 Donald was killed in action in the forward boiler and engine room; when the first of four torpedoes from 3 Imperial Japanese destroyers hit the ship. HMAS Perth was sunk in the Battle of the Sunda Straits near Indonesia.

When Donald’s parents were notified of his death, his mother found it hard to talk to her husband Cleve for months… because he had counselled his son to join the Royal Australian Navy.

Of the company of 686 sailors, only 218 were repatriated. The remainder were killed during or soon after the action; or died as prisoners of war.

Donald Burgess was 21 years old when he went down with the ship. A memorial to his life and service is found in an International War Graves wall in Plymouth UK. Panel 76 Column 1