Daniel Burges

Three times wounded, he led his battalion through heavy fire

Daniel Burges earned the Victoria Cross for his courage at Jumeaux on 18 September 1918. Born in Bloomsbury, London, on 1 July 1873, he entered the British Army in 1893 and served with the Gloucestershire Regiment. During the Second Boer War he performed signalling and staff duties in South Africa, with campaign service associated with Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein and the Transvaal. He later served with the Punjab Volunteer Rifles before returning to regimental duties.

During the First World War, Burges served as a company commander with the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, in Flanders. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Ypres on 9 May 1915 and Mentioned in Despatches. He subsequently commanded the 10th (Service) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, during service in Egypt and France. His command ended on 30 June 1916, before the battalion's Somme assault. Following an instructional appointment at Aldershot, he returned to active operations on the Macedonian Front.

In September 1917 he assumed command of the 7th (Service) Battalion, South Wales Borderers. He received the Distinguished Service Order in June 1918 for distinguished service connected with military operations in Salonika.

On 18 September 1918, during the Battle of Doiran, Burges reconnoitred enemy positions and guided his battalion to its assembly point without casualties. Smoke and dust obscured the landmarks. When the advancing soldiers came under severe machine-gun fire, he repeatedly moved among them, maintaining formation and direction despite being wounded. He continued leading the assault until two further wounds caused him to lose consciousness. Briefly captured by Bulgarian forces and subsequently recovered, he suffered injuries requiring the amputation of a leg.

At the time of his VC action he was a Major serving as temporary Lieutenant Colonel. He received the brevet of Lieutenant Colonel in January 1919. King George V presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 21 December 1918. Burges was Mentioned in Despatches three times and received French and Greek military decorations.

After the war he held appointments at the War Office and military detention establishments in Cologne and Colchester. He retired from the Army in 1923 and served as Resident Governor and Major of the Tower of London until 1933. This appointment did not increase his military rank.

Daniel Burges died in Bristol on 24 October 1946, aged 73, and was cremated at Arnos Vale, where a memorial plaque was erected in 2006. His career is remembered particularly for his leadership and personal sacrifice at Doiran.