Early Life.
Joseph William Burgess was born on the 23rd April 1875 at Sawbridgeworth. His father was Thomas Burgess, a Labourer, born in 1847 at Stanstead Abbots. He married Eleanor Jane Timson, (known as Ellen), born in 1850 at Ware, a spinster, on the 9th June 1867 at Holy Trinity, Bishops Stortford. They had seven children:
1. Eleanor Burgess born and died in 1868 at Bishops Stortford. 2. Thomas Burgess born in 1869 at Ware. 3. George Benjamin born in 1871 at Bishops Stortford. 4. Florence Ellen Burgess born in 1873 at Bishops Stortford. 5. Joseph William Burgess. 6. Lillian Burgess born in 1876 at Sawbridgeworth. 7. Benjamin John Burgess born in 1879 at Ware.
During the census of 1871 the family lived at Castle Street, Bishops Stortford Thomas was recorded as being employed as a Corn Porter. In the census of 1881, the family were living at Dickinsons Yard, Ware and Thomas was a Bargeman. Not long after the census Joseph’s mother died aged 30.
Father Marries Again.
On the 27th September 1885 Joseph’s father Thomas married Frances (known as Fanny) Hankin nee Wright, a widow, at St. Mary the Virgin, Ware. She was born in 1837 in Ware. In the census of 1891 Thomas and Fanny, Joseph and Benjamin and Fanny’s son William are shown as living in Priory Street, Ware. Thomas was employed as a General Labourer.
Early Army Service.
Joseph decided to join the Army and from his Army Form B265 Service Record we know the following. He was Attested on the 9th November 1893 at Hertford for Short Service of five years in the Colours and seven years in the Reserves, enlisting as Private 4715 in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He said he was born in Bishops Stortford, he was a British Subject and was aged 18 years 6 months. He gave his occupation as a Labourer and said he had not lived away from his home.
He further stated that he was not an Apprentice, was not married, had never been imprisoned and was not currently or previously been in the Military and had never been rejected for the Military due to being unfit.
His description on enlistment was recorded as follows. Age physically equivalent to: 18 years 6 months, height: 6 feet ½ inch, weight: 132 lbs, chest: 33 ½ to 35 ½ ins., complexion: fresh, eyes: light blue, hair: light brown, religion: Wesleyan. His next of kin was listed as: Father: Thomas Burgess of Crib Street, Ware, elder brothers: Thomas Burgess of Railway Police, York, George Burgess of Ware, younger brother: Benjamin Burgess of Ware, elder sister: Florence Burgess of Ware, younger sister: Lilly Burgess of Ware. On the same day he was medically examined at Hertford and found to be fit for service in the Bedfordshire Regiment.
From his Statement of Service we know the following. 9th November 1893 Having been Attested he was posted to Depot. 21st November 1893 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. 9th November 1895 he was granted 1d (per day) Good Conduct pay.
Marriage.
On the 11th February 1897 Joseph, a bachelor and Soldier aged 22, married Alice Charlotte Green, a spinster aged 22, both of Oak Street, Ware at All Saints, Hertford. His father was Thomas Burgess a Bargemen, her father was George Green a Soldier. They had eight children:
1. Leonard Joseph William Burgess born in 1898 at Hertford. 2. Dorothy Alice May Burgess born in 1899 at Hemel Hempstead. 3. Ivy Gladys Burgess born in 1901 at Hemel Hempstead. 4. Horace Reginald Frederick Burgess born 1904 at Hertford. 5. Frederick William Burgess born in 1905 at Hertford. 6. Daisy Martha Burgess born in 1907 at Hertford. 7. Nellie Harriet Burgess born in 1910 at Hertford. 8. Albert Thomas Burgess born in 1911 at Hertford.
Continuing from his Statement of Service. 20th April 1898 whilst at Lichfield he agreed to accept new regulations regarding pay as per Special Army Order of 2nd April 1898. 11th July 1898 he was promoted Lance Corporal. 4th May 1899 he was transferred, with his consent, to the Army Reserve before his expiration of Army Service.
Police Service.
Joseph’s Police Service Record has not survived but from the following information we know that he became Police Constable 107 of the Hertford County Constabulary. It is possible that he was one of the following new Officers mentioned in this brief article published in the Herts Advertiser on Saturday the 29th July 1899 under the headline: News In Brief. At the Hatfield Petty Sessions on Monday, six new constables for the county were sworn in.
Again, from the following information he was possibly stationed in D or the Hemel Hempstead Division. In any case after only a matter of a few months he was recalled to the Army.
Recalled To The Army – Boer War.
Joseph’s Army Service Record shows that he was recalled to the Colours on the 4th December 1899 under the Special Army Order of the 7th October 1899. By the 16th December 1899 he commenced service in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. After 187 days he returned Home on 21st June 1900. This brief period of service brought his overall length of service to 6 years 244 days. It is not recorded but it’s very likely that he had contracted a disease. This is supported by the fact that on the 30th April 1902 he was discharged from the Army having been found medically unfit for further service. He had completed only 8 years and 173 days of his 12 years’ service.
Joseph was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with clasps for Cape Colony and Orange Free State. His medal roll records a comment in a remarks column which is believed to mean that he was invalided to England on the 8th May 1900.
Re-joining The Police.
The precise date that Joseph re-joined the Police is not known. However, it is possible to make a calculated estimate using information from his Army Service Record and the below General Order.
General Order 22 of the 9th October 1902 announced that under the provisions of the Police Reservists Act 1902, the Police Authority for the County has decided that the Army Service of those Police who were called upon to re-join the Colours as Reservists during the late war shall count as approved service for Pension or Gratuity under the provisions of the Police Act 1890. This order affects the undermentioned Sergeant and Constables.
PC Hyiatt 91 D Division Service with Regiment 2 Yrs 294 days. PC Wood 172 B Division Service with Regiment 1 Yr 24 days. PC Warren 55 E Division Service with Regiment 1 Yr 350 days. PC Hunt 134 D Division Service with Regiment 351 days. PC Pusey 183 F Division Service with Regiment 2 Yrs 183 days. PC Hammond 89 B Division Service with Regiment 2 Yrs 218 days. PC Burgess 107 D Division Service with Regiment 236 days. PC Field 234 A Division Service with Regiment 31 days. PS Wilcox 138 B Division Service with Regiment 340 days. PC Stevens 60 A Division Service with Regiment 1 Yr 185 days.
His Army Service Record states that he was recalled on the 4th December 1899 and 12 days later on the 16th December commenced Military Service in South Africa. He served 187 days in South Africa before returning and commencing duties at Home on the 21st June 1900 which totals 199 days. From the above General Order, he was allowed to count 236 days Army Service meaning that after returning home he remained in the Army for a further 37 days bringing him to the 28th July 1900. So, if as it is believed that his Police Service was continuous with his Army Service, he would have re-joined the Constabulary on the 29th July 1900. He probably would have had to pass a Medical to ensure he was fit enough for the duties of a Police Constable first.
However, Before Joseph Returned Home His Wife Was Involved In An Unfortunate Event.
General Order 7 of the 14th April 1900 stated: The Chief Constable is much surprised and annoyed that the wife of PC Burgess 107D a Reservist Soldier serving in South Africa has in disregard of this Office G.O. 30/99 been receiving an allowance ranging from 7/- to 5/- a week from the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association. Mrs. Burgess has been drawing from Police Fund, Police Subscriptions, Government Separation Allowance and stoppages from her husband’s pay 21/5 per week for herself and her two children, besides living rent free in a Police cottage.
It is simply cruel that under the circumstances, she should have been taking the bread out of the mouths of really poor women and children, wives of soldiers that have no Police funds behind them, to give herself luxuries to which she is unaccustomed.
If it were not for the distress of mind that it would cause Burgess who is fighting for his Queen and Country, the Chief Constable would mark his sense of Mrs. Burgess’ conduct, by removing her name from the list of Police Reservists wives receiving allowances and living rent free.
Mrs. Burgess will now be placed under stoppages of 7/- a week until the amount received by her from the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association has been refunded.
Superintendents will be held personally responsible that the Orders conveyed in G.O. 30 are strictly adhered to by Police Reservists wives living in their Division. A copy of this Order will be sent to every Police Reservists wife.
During the census of 1901 Police Constable Joseph W. Burgess and wife and two children were recorded as living at Corner Grove, Cupid Green, Grove Hill Lane, Hemel Hempstead.
Noisy Drunks.
Published in the Watford Observer on Saturday the 25th May 1901 under the headline: Disturbing The Choristers. Charles Hebbs, Alfred Hebbs, Leonard Sells Albert Spurr, and George Spurr, all of Hempstead, were summoned for hooting and yelling and using obscene language on May 12. Alfred Hebbs appeared, and all the other defendants were represented by friends. Police Constable Burgess deposed to hearing the defendants shouting and swearing outside the St. Paul’s Church during the time the members of the choir were practising. Mr. O.H. Day said that on the date named there was special choir practice at the St. Paul’s Church, and while they were practising these lads were continually running in one door and out the other, shouting as they went through the church. The Chairman said it was most disgraceful thing for lads to be disturbing people in church. He hoped something would be done to stop it. It was a most serious thing, and the Bench would do their utmost to put down these bad manners on Sunday nights. It was chiefly the fault of the parents in not bringing their children up properly. George Spurr, the eldest of the defendants, was ordered to pay 2s., and the others Is. each, the Chairman remarking that any recurrence of the offence would be much more severely dealt with.
General Order 5 of the 12th February 1902 announced that twelve Officers had been awarded an increase in their rate of pay, which included PC 107 Burgess from 25/8 to 26/10 per week with effect from 23rd January 1902 inclusive.
Mutual Aid Bedfordshire.
General Order 8 of the 26th April 1902 announced that a party of Police have been detailed for duty in Bedfordshire (under agreement Sect. 25 of Police Act 1890) at the Pony and Galloway Races to be held in Luton Hoo Park on Wednesday 7th May 1902 to parade on the course at 11 a.m. Superintendent Reynolds D.C.C. was in charge with 3 Sergeants and 25 Constables which included PC 107D Burgess.
Dress: As usual for Race Meetings. Each Officer will supply himself with food for the day. Applications for railway fares to be submitted immediately after the duty is performed.
Assault On Police.
Published in the Watford Observer on Saturday the 13th September 1902 under the headline: Drunken Assault on a Constable. Joseph and Charles Porter, father and son, of Hempstead, were charged with assaulting and resisting Police Constable Burgess in the execution of his duty, on the 5th inst. Louisa Porter, wife of Joseph Porter, was also charged with being drunk and disorderly on the same date, and also with a similar offence on the 27th ult.
Police Constable Burgess stated that on Wednesday the 27th ult., he was on duty in Chalk Hill, Hemel Hempstead. He saw defendant staggering up the hill from Corner Hall, very drunk. She was using the most filthy language. Witness spoke to her and advised her to go home. Her husband took her home. Defendant: I thought first how kind the Policeman spoke to me. Joseph Porter, the husband of the defendant was called for the defence but said could not say whether he was at the place mentioned. Certainly, he did not pick his wife up. Defendant: He never has in his life. The woman was fined 5s. and 5s. costs or seven days, for the drunkenness on the 27th.
Police Constable Burgess then gave evidence to the other offence, and said he went to Mrs. Porter’s house to serve the summons relating to the other case. No one was at home, but shortly afterwards he met Mr. and Mrs. Porter coming up the hill. They were both drunk. When he served the summons on the woman she threw it on the ground. He picked it up and followed her to the house, she using very obscene language. When they reached the door, the male defendant rushed in and took his coat off and then rushed out with the open knife (produced) in his hand and struck witness with it on the chest. It split down his tunic. Porter: What lies! You have never seen it before.
Witness continued that he then closed with the man and they fell the ground together. The boy then came out in his night shirt and struck witness with a board when he was on the ground. Witness then took the man down to the Elephant Farm and left him in the charge of Mr. Norris.
He then went back, and met Mrs. Porter coming down the hill, mumbling to herself and carrying the chopper (produced) in her hand. Just before he reached her, she dropped it on the ground, and witness picked it up and told the woman she would have to go with him to the Police Station. Mr. Norris helped him down with them as far as League Square, and then Police Constable Keen assisted him. Both defendants were drunk and violent.
The male defendant said he had been showing the Constable his bag of tools, and the woman said she did not take the chopper down the hill with her; she did not know how it got there.
The Constable said he supposed she intended to strike him with it. Henry Norris, bailiff Mr. Woodman, gave corroborative evidence, and said both defendants were drunk when he saw them. The man was quiet when the Constable left him with him. The woman said the Constable half choked her three times; was all because of his dogging their steps.
The two adult defendants were convicted, the woman being ordered to pay 12s. 6d. fine and costs, or ten days’ imprisonment in default. The Chairman, addressing the man said he was convicted for one the most serious offences that the Bench could try, of resisting the Police and using the knife against them. He had been on the Bench for 30 years and had always made it rule to deal severely with such cases. Defendant’s action was most cowardly one and he would have to go to prison for six weeks with hard labour, without the option of fine. The boy was discharged with a caution.
A Minor Blemish.
General Order 58 of the 27th December 1902 announced that PC Burgess 107D having been reported for neglect of duty in delaying to report a case of attempted highway robbery is reduced to 23/11 per week.
Retirement.
An official record of Joseph leaving the Police has not survived but from the following abridged newspaper article it is quite clear that he had, very possibly due to the same medical reason that he was deemed to be unfit for the Military.
Published in the Herts Advertiser on Saturday the 20th June 1903 under the headline: Charge of Neglect Against A Mother at Hertford. Alice Pallett (36) Hertford, surrendered to her bail on a charge of unlawfully and wilfully neglecting her child, Frederick Thomas Pallet, five weeks of age in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering, and on a second account with neglecting him in a manner likely to cause injury to his health, at Hertford on April 6th.
Joseph William Burgess, of Old Hall Street, a retired Police Constable, stated from Jan. 1st to April 4th he lived next door the prisoner.
The 1911 census records the family as living at 85 Wellington Street, Hertford with Joseph employed as a Painter.
In the 1921 census Joseph’s wife Alice was living at 100, Exchange Road, Watford with Ivy, Horace, Daisy, Nellie and Albert and a lodger. She was shown as being married but separated. Joseph was a lodger at 34 Parkgate Road, Watford and working as a Painter and Decorator for the Metropolitan Asylum Board at the Leavesden Mental Hospital.
In the Register of 1939 Joseph W. Burgess, a married London County Council Painter, was listed as living with a Mary Buckingham a widowed Housekeeper at 885 St. Albans Road, Watford.
Joseph William Burgess of 885 St. Albans Road, Watford died on the 5th February 1959. He left his effects of £1855 13s 6d to his daughter Nellie Harriet Woolcott a widow.
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