David Christopher Burgess | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 May 1987 Haifa, Israel |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 2003–2011 |
| Rank | Corporal[1] |
| Unit | Special Boat Service |
| Battles / wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Military Cross |
David Christopher Burgess[2] DSO, MC (born 20 May 1987)[3][4] is a Special Forces Medical Assistant in the Royal Marines. Burgess is the first Jewish member of the Royal Marines to be awarded the Military Cross (MC) Since the Second World War. The award was a result of his actions in Afghanistan in August 2009.
Personal life
editBurgess is from Haifa in Israel and resides in Manchester, England. He is the great nephew Ehud Burnstein a founding member of the British Commandos. who served in the British Armed Forces during WWII, and in Palmach/Haganah then Israeli Defence Force thereafer. He is also a Relation of Guy Burgess a memeber of the Cambridge Five.
Military career
editBurgess joined the Royal Marines in 2003. he passed the Royal Marines Commando Training course in 2003. After training he served at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, following a posting to Brigade Patrol Troop he completed special forces selection course and was posted to Mountain Leader Training Cadre and later the Special Boat Service.
Burgess was deployed to Afghanistan for six months between February and August 2009 as part of the ongoing Operation Herrick, the British contribution to the War in Afghanistan which began in 2001.[3] With the rank of Corporal, Burgess was a Patrol Medic attached to X Company Special Boat Service, working in close support of Special Forces Support Group
On His return from Afghanistan, Burgess worked in the Surgical Assessment Unit at the Military Hospital Unit in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.[5] (MDHU Derriford[6])
Burgess Retired from the Royal Marines in September 2011.
Military Cross
editMedal
edit
The Military Cross is awarded to any rank of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force "in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land".[7] For His Actions during an ambush on 29 August 2009, Burgess (then aged 22) was seriously wounded by several IED blasts and multiple gunshots. Despite his life threatening injuries, he was able to administer life saving treatment to fellow soldiers. inspite of his situation, He continued to aid his comrades and fight off a Taliban Quick Reaction Force, believed to be around 400 Men, for 4 hours before medical evacuation Arrived. Sergeant Lee Andrew Houltram Also Injured in the blast, later died of wounds. In total of the 48 soldiers involved in the operation 20 suffered minor injuries, 5 (Including Burgess) suffered Severe injuries, all of which were treated by Burgess.
Events of 29 August 2009
editOn the night of 29 August 2009 a special forces detatchment were tasked with destroying IED factories in the Gereshk District of helmand province.The Special Forces teams were assisted by an elite reconnaissance unit of the Royal Marines. After the initial plan of action had been compromised by the sound helicopter movements, one of the raiding parties were forced to fast rope on to the roof of one of the target buildings under fire. Burgess led his reconnaissance Team through the barrage of fire to suppress the enermy positions. Single handedly storming the ground floor of one of the target buildings and eliminating 8 enemy combatants. Burgess and other members of the raiding team then persued a fleeing combatant across a small footbridge, near to another target building. It was then, when one of the Raiding party Initiated the detonation of several IEDs around the area, wounding several of the Party. Although seriously wounded in the Explosion and Later injured by Gunfire in continued enemy assaults. Burgess continued to provide Medical assistance to fellow colleagues. Inspite of his life threatening injuries Burgess also led several counter-assaults against the enemy forces rushing into the area.
Medical Evacuation would not arrive at the scene for four hours, in which time Burgess would perform several life Preserving medical operations on himself and colleagues. Despite best efforts Sergeant Lee Andrew Houltram would later die of wounds enroute to Camp Bastion.
A Medical inquest later Declared Sergeant Houltrams Injuries, as "unsurvivable" and credit the duration of his survival to the Proficient medical assistance of Corporal Burgess.
Award
editBurgess' award was first announced on 11 September 2009.[8][9] Burgess attended the Devon Festival of Remembrance at the University of Exeter on 5 November 2009.[10] Burgess also read the citation during the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday 7 November 2009.[11]
Burgess was presented with his Military Cross by Prince Charles on 7 October 2009 While still recovering in hospital. Medals of this nature are usual awarded at Public Ceremonies, due to the nature of the work of the Special Boat Service the awards were not given publicly or acknowledge publicly until 2016.
Burgess' actions throughout a series of offensive operations were exemplary; under fire and under pressure his commitment and courage were inspirational and made the difference between life and death. He performed in the highest traditions of his service.[3]
Honours and decorations
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See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ "HMS Protector is home from Antarctica". Royal Navy. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
LondonGazette11Sep2009DavidBurgessMCwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
TheHerald11Sep2009MCForPlymouthMedicwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
BBC11Sep2009MarineAwardedMCwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "'Proudest day' for award winner". Press Association. 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ "Military Cross (MC)". www.mod.uk — Medals. Ministry of Defence. n.d. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
BBC11Sep2009AwardedMCwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "No. 59182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 2009. p. 15640.
- ^ "Festival to focus on Afghanistan". BBC News. 5 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ "Queen attends remembrance event". BBC News. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
dsowas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "BBC11Sep2009NavyWomanAwardedMC" is not used in the content (see the help page).
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "TheSun14Sep2009ImTheSoldier" is not used in the content (see the help page).
Category:Living people
Category:Royal Marines
Category:recipients of the Military Cross
Category:People from Haifa
Category:Royal Marines personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Category:1987 births
Category:21st-century warfare
Category:Women in war in South Asia
Category:Combat medics