Mr. H. S. Burgess

Mr. Herbert Smith Burgess, Feature Sales Manager of Odhams Press, and former Librarian of the Daily Herald, died in hospital on Friday of last week.. For some time he was hon. secretary of The Keys, a social society of Catholic journalists, and he died a few hours before the annual Mass for deceased members was due to be said. Mr. Burgess was fifty-five years of age, and his death was unexpected.
Educated at Bolton Grammar School, Mr. Burgess set out to be an accountant. He later travelled on the continent to perfect his knowledge of languages, for which he had a special gift. He married at the age of thirty, a few years before the Great War, in which he served with distinction in the R.N.V.R., being awarded the O.B.E. (Military) for services in the East.
After the war, Mr. Burgess joined the staff of the old Daily Chronicle. He was a friend to the many London Catholic journalists who knew him. Recently he was appointed by the Archbishop of Westminster to be a member of the Executive Committee of the new Guild of St. Francis of Sales.
The funeral at St. Mary's Cemetery, Kensal Green, on Monday, was preceded by requiem Mass at the church of the Sacred Heart, Holloway, N. Fr. David Browne, the celebrant, was assisted by Fr. P. English. Besides the family mourners there were present many of the schoolchildren and teachers; Mr. Douglas Newton (representing the Guild of St. Francis of Sales); Mr. W. R. Titterton (The Keys), Mr. Bernard Shearer (Catholic Times), Mr. Wilkinson Sherren (Columba), Mr. George Barnard (Universe), Mr. T. B. Wisdom (representing the editor and staff of the Daily Herald), Mr. C. H. Parsons (Odhams Press, Ltd.), Lady Manchester and Mr. J. Leader (school managers).
In a tribute from the altar steps, Fr. Browne said that Mr. Burgess had been his close friend for ten years, since he asked to be received into the Church. Since then he had been an exemplary Catholic and a loyal and faithful worker. He had offered his services in any way in which he could help, and he became a manager of the elementary school and of the secondary school.