Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

William BURTON

Personal

Born: 1892

Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 9790

Birthplace: Ballan, Victoria

Parents: William Burton, b. 22/12/1863 (Reg. # 4123) Melton d. 17/03/1934 Melton; Farmer Buried Melton Cemetery: 29/03/1934 Grave 11, Compartment 25, Section 03 (his parents: Thomas Burton & Margaret Knowles Toolern Vale residents from arrival in Australia until their deaths)
Hannah Gibson Wilkie b 1869, Myrniong (Reg. # 4305)  9/03/1945, Werribee (parents Robert Wilkie & Mary Ann Irwin)
Married 12/07/1887 Blackwood
(Family historians)

Died: 1 July, 1964

Burial place: 07/07/1964 Fawkner CemeteryGarden Of Remembrance 3 Wall Niches (with Nellie)

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

5th Battalion 14th Reinforcement 46th Battalion 4th Machine Gun Battalion

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 4452

Enlistment date: 17 July, 1915 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 23 years 4 months

Address at enlistment: C/- Railway Station, Melton, Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: William Burton, C/- Railway Station, Melton

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Weight: 12 stones 5 lbs
Complexion: Ruddy
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Auburn
Distinctive marks: Scar under right breast

Embarkation ship: H.M.A.T. Themistocles.

Rank: Corporal

Return Date: 26 July, 1919

Return Vessel: Demosthenes.

Arrival at Australia: 4 September, 1919.

Discharge Date: 6 November, 1919

War Service Summary

28/01/1916    Proceed overseas
02/04/1916    Proceed to Zeitoun
13/05/1916    Dental treatment; Sick to hospital
17/05/1916    Rejoined unit
02/06/1916    Proceed from Alexandria to join British Expeditionary Forces
08/06/1916    Disembarked Marseilles
08/08/1916    Wounded whilst in action with 46th battalion; Gun Shot Wound to face and leg in the field;
18/08/1916    To England from Calais
19/08/1916 Admitted to First Northern General Hospital - Gun Shot Wound (eye ..)
28/09/1916    Discharged to headquarters GSW eye severe; Newcastle on Tyne
At Grantham ; P. Downs
19/04/1917 - 24/04/1917 to be EDP Corporal; Aust. Machine Gun Training Depot; Grantham
14/06/1917    Private to be EDP Corporal; Grantham
30/06/1917    E.D.P. Corporal reverts to Private
30/06/1917    Promoted E.R. Sgt, M.G.T.Coy
04/10/1917    Grantham E.R. Sgt, Reverts to ranks
04/10/1917    E.R. Sgt Appointed A/Cpl with Machine Gun Training Depot
26/10/1917    Proceeded to France
31/10/1917    12th M.G. Coy, Camiers
02/11/1917    Rejoined 12th Machine Gun Coy., from 46th Battalion from hospital wounded, ex England to France
05/01/1918    Appointed Lance Corporal
01/04/1918    Designation Change to 4th Machine Gun Battalion
24/08/1918    Wounded in Action; Gassed, 2nd occasion
31/08/1918    Invalided to England - gassed
01/09/1918    Gassed; Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol
27/10/1918    London; A.W.L. 3 hours 16/10/1918    Reprimanded
07/04/1919 - 07/07/1919    Corporal - On Leave; with pay; Non-military employment - farming attending Mr. Coll McDonald, Penoreich, Bridge of Allen, Scotland
08/07/1919 - 22/07/1919    Pre-embarkation leave Contact: Mrs Pearson, 16 Mar Place, Alloa, Scotland
26/07/1919   Embarked for Australia 
04/09/1919   Arrived in Australia 
06/11/1919   Discharged

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children:
Nellie Stewart - Marriage Scotland 1918 Reg 389 (P. 19 20 Service Record)
24 Minard Road, Crossmyloof, Glasgow, 25, Spinster; Car driver

Father James Stewart, Bridge of Allen, Scotland, Farmer

Place/s of residence:
Kongwak South Gippsland; (Electoral rolls)
Later electoral Rolls indicate a shift to Coburg as a stonemason and later, cleaner.

Occupations: Farmer
Date of death: July 1964 Reg # 13959
Place of burial:
07/07/1964 Fawkner Cemetery Garden Of Remembrance 3 Wall Niches (with Nellie)

Other relevant information:
Brother 4451 Sergeant Robert Burton, MM Enlisted together sequential numbers `
Children of William & Hannah Burton; Williams siblings:
Thomas 1888-1969
Mary Ann 1890-1966 (M J Patterson)
William 1892-1961
Robert 1895-1965
James 1896-1927
David 1898-1965
Ernest 1902-1973
Eric 1905-1967
Elsie Lillian 1907 (M Thomas Mann Stephens)
Henry 1910 1973

Additional Information

Gisborne Gazette Friday 22 October 1915 p 3 MELTON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Tuesday. For the purpose of presenting Privates W Dodemaide, R. Barton, W. Burton, D. Mathieson, T. O'Callaghan and L. Norton with wristlet watches, and at the same time to extend to them a hearty farewell on the occasion of their departure for active service., residents of Melton attended a farewell social in force on Saturday night. Proceedings were in the hands of the committee locally organised for the purpose, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Music provided by Miss Ross (piano) and Messrs Boxshall and Nicholson (violins) was greatly enjoyed. During the evening, Cr Robinson, president, in presenting the above-mentioned souvenirs, said he thought the fact remarkable that all the colonies had responded so gallanty to the call to arms, and rallied round the flag in the interests of liberty, fraternity, and honor, to guard the traditional prestige of the British people, down to every man, woman, and child. Were the Prussians to conquer in this struggle, it practically spelt serfdom for Australians, and the confiscation of all those liberties which make life in the British Empire desirable. Messrs Jas. Cunningham, Nesbitt, Kernicks Clark, and Cr J. F, Minns also spoke. The recipients responded suitably.

   

Sources

Aust War Memorial
Service Record
Embarkation Roll
Newspaper accounts
Family sources
Birth Registration 1892 # 9790