Harold Burgess was born in Bolton, Lancashire on 9 October 1887 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 16 June 1903. He trained as a Seaman Torpedoman and served in the Battleship HMS BULWARK, the Torpedo & Mining School HMS VERNON, and the Cruiser HMS COCHRANE before joining Submarines at HMS MERCURY on 16 August 1909.

By 28 June 1912 Leading Seaman (ST) Harold Burgess was serving in the Submarine Depot Ship HMS BONAVENTURE. On 13 August 1915, he was a Petty Officer serving in the Submarine Depot Ship HMS VULCAN where he was promoted to Acting Gunner (T) on 14 October 1915. He was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN Under Training on 2 December 1915. Harold Burgess was appointed to HMS C24 as First Lieutenant on 10 February 1916, and then to HMS K2 as Third Hand on 1 July 1917 at Scapa Flow.

He was appointed to the Cruiser HMS CARNARVON on 14 October 1917 and then to the aircraft carrier HMS FURIOUS on 14 March 1918. Whilst serving in HMS FURIOUS Harold Burgess was taken ill with pneumonia and is reported to have died on 27 January 1919.

Harold Burgess was the husband of Ivy Emmaline Burgess  of Porchester, Hampshire. He was buried in the Porchester (St Mary) Churchyard.