Private: 7180 Albert BURGE.

19th BATTALION - 45th BATTALION - 34th BATTALION AIF

Private: 7180 Albert BURGE.


Born: 3rd October 1891. Cooks Hill via Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 

Died: 24th July 1922. Waratah via Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:13670/1922.


Father: Joseph E Burge. (1855-1929)

Mother: Amelia Burge. nee: Fisher. (1876-1896)


INFORMATION

Albert Burge enlisted with the AIF on the 4th February 1918 at the Sydney Showground, New South Wales and was marched in the the Amy Camp at Liverpool before being sent to Melbourne Victoria where he embarked on board HMAT A71 "Nestor" for England on the 28th February 1918 and disembarked at Liverpool England on the 20th April 1918. Albert was marched in the the 5th Training Battalion but was later transferred to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford. Albert proceeded overseas via Folkstone and disembarked at Fovant an the 15th July 1918 and was again transferred to the 34th Battalion on the on the 21st July 1918. 

 25th October 1918. 

Evidence

Re No 7708 Pte Blasser K.

This man occupied the same dug-out as myself in the line. In 31.7.18 the dug-out was partly blown in by a shell. Private: 7708 Kurst BLASSER received injuries through part of the dug-out falling on him.

(Sgd) Private: 1780 Albert BURGE. 34th Battalion AIF.

34th Bn.

Here with Army Form3428 concerning accidental injuries of Private: 7708 Kurst BLASSER and Private: QUICK. I have made the necessary enquiries and am of the opinion that neither of them were to blame in there respective cases. I have filled in para 4 to this effect. Would you please obtain the C.O's signature and fill in date when signed to this para.

(Sgd) Captain: Telford Graham GILDER. O.C "A" Coy. 

Albert was in the Quota 45 and retuned to England in the 8th May 1919 although Albert had been hospitalised several times with total VD period 68 days whilst in France and England and returned to Australia on the 6th of September on board the "Euripides" and disembarked on the 24th October 1919.

Albert Burge arrived home from active service to Newcastle on Friday night 24 October 1919 and was met by the Mayoress, Mrs J. Lott, members of the Southern Cross League and the Welcome Home Committee and then taken to the home of his aunt, Mrs J. Perry, where a reception was provided with food and music. He was also a guest at a welcome home banquet at the School of Arts at Carrington staged by the Welcome Home Committee on Saturday 29 November 1919.

Albert was discharged from the AIF on the 4th December 1919.  

Family Information

Albert was a single Carter from Newcastle, New South Wales upon his enlistment with the AIF. Buried at the Catholic Cemetery at Sandgate with his parents and brother; invited to attend the funeral were family and friends as well as officers and members of the City of Newcastle Lodge G.U.U.O.F. and members of the Newcastle and District Trolley Draymen and Carter Union. His brother was Private: 4558 Manuel BURGE. 45th Battalion AIF. 


In February 1901 Albert Burge, aged 9, along with two other children was charged under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act as they were members of a gang of juvenile housebreakers and accordingly they were ordered to be placed on board the nautical training ship Sobraon on the 19th February 1901.

As an adult, Albert Burge was charged and pleaded guilty to riotous behaviour in Hunter Street, Newcastle on 8 November 1920 for damaging a pane of glass and was fined one pound with two pounds damages. Then again he was tried for an event the day before when he had been spoken to about his behaviour in the Federal Hotel and struck the man who subsequently forcibly removed Burge from the hotel. On this occasion he was acquitted.

Once again Burge was in trouble during the Christmas period in 1920 when he was tried at Newcastle Court on 20 December for behaving in a riotous manner in Maitland Road, Tighe's Hill. It seems that a large brawl erupted outside the Federal Hotel between returned soldiers. Several people were charged and found guilty. Albert Burge pleaded not guilty and claimed a man named David Jones called him a 'nigger' (on Burge's enlistment documents he is recorded as having dark complexion, dark eyes and dark hair) and slapped him on the face. This was corroborated by a witness to the event. David Jones claimed that Burge came up to him and asked him if he wanted to fight and then struck him. Burge was fined ten shillings or alternatively 3 days imprisonment.

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 26/11/2018-29/11/2023.


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