PRIVATE HAROLD DARWIN BURGESS
GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT
2ND OCTOBER 1917 AGE 20
BURIED: DUHALLOW A.D.S. CEMETERY, BELGIUM
The full biblical text reads:
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The General Epistle of St James Chapter 1 verse 12
In St Matthew Chapter 24, verse 13, Christ promised:
He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And what would he have to endure:
... nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes
[Matthew 24:7]
Harold Burgess's mother signed for his inscription. Although I feel that her intention was to imply that her son's death had brought him 'the crown of life', her use of the word 'endure' is interesting. For all the talk of honour, patriotism and valour, it is now accepted that the quality that was of greatest value to a soldier in the trenches was endurance.