Born in
Waihi on 4 October 1918, Burgess was the son of Edith Alice Burgess and Walter Neilson Burgess. He was educated at
Mount Albert Grammar School in
Auckland, and worked for
Auckland City Council as a clerk and valuer from 1935 to 1951. In 1942, Burgess married June Frankham, and the couple went on to have three children, including
Mark Burgess who played
Test cricket for New Zealand. During
World War II, Burgess served as a lieutenant in the
New Zealand Army between 1942 and 1944. He completed a Diploma of Urban Valuation at
Auckland University College in 1948. From 1951 until his retirement in 1983, Burgess worked in property management for the
Auckland Harbour Board. ==Cricket==