This memorial page is dedicated to Arthur Burgess, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.

But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.

Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.

 

Arthur Burgess

Name: Burgess
First names: Arthur
Nickname: –
Date of birth: –
Place of birth: –
Residence: in Isleworth
Rank / Occupation: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
Identity tag: 1382415
Unit: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 166 Squadron
Date of death: 21 June 1943
Place of death: Neerkant
Cause of death: Crash of Wellington HE924
Cemetery: Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen
Memorial site: –

Additional information

Grave location: 7. H. 7.

Aged 23. Son of Charles Bertie Burgess and Dorothy Burgess of Isleworth, Middlesex. Widow: Doreen Burgess.

On 21 June 1943 at approximately 01:49, the Wellington X (AS-C) with serial number HE924 crashed near the Heesterveld in Neerkant. The aircraft probably exploded in the air, as its wreckage was scattered over a large area. The aircraft, which had taken off from Krimington and was bound for Krefeld, was shot down following an aerial engagement in the vicinity of St. Truiden (B) by Hauptmann Siegfried Wandam of the 1st Nachtjagdgeschwader 5, was shot down by Hauptmann Wilhelm Herget of the 3rd Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.

Arthur Burgess, George Roland Wright, Eric Jeffs and James Karl Somers were killed in the crash. William Francis Payne has been missing ever since.

Report drawn up by Sergeant Hendrik Draaier and Sergeant Adrianus van den Broek, Eindhoven Regional Military Police, Deurne unit, Neerkant post.
Rapport, opgemaakt door wachtmeesters Hendrik Draaier en Adrianus van den Broek, Marechaussee Gewest Eindhoven, groep Deurne, post Neerkant.
Casualty report
Grabmeldung
Captain Siegfried Wandam
Hauptmann Siegfried Wandam
Captain Wilhelm Herget
Hauptmann Wilhelm Herget

View all persons in the category: Allied soldiers killed in action