'For conspicuous bravery and untiring devotion to duty under heavy shell fire during active operations conducted by this Battalion near Gouzeaucourt on 9th 13th September, 1918. Throughout these operations Burgess was employed as a Linesman, mending and laying telephone wires between Battalion Headquarters and the Headquarters of Companies. The route lay across a deeply wooded valley, which was heavily shelled and constantly gassed. Breaks in the wires were recurring almost unceasingly. Burgess was out day and night following the wires and restoring broken communication. Towards the end of the operations he was almost dead with exhaustion and lack of sleep, yet he continued to do his work in the same steady rapid way, always in face of heavy shell fire. But for his untiring efforts the success of the operations may have been turned to failure.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 11 February 1919