The AIF Project

Alexander Stewart BURTON

Regimental number384
Date of birth20 January 1893
Place of birthKyneton, Victoria
SchoolState School, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationIronmonger
AddressEuroa, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 9.75"
Weight146 lbs
Next of kinA Burton
Previous military serviceServed in the Cadets for 4 years.
Enlistment date18 August 1914
Place of enlistmentSeymour, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll7th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Victoria Cross


Recommendation date: 22 August 1915

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', Supplement, No. 29455, 28 January 1916; 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 44, 6 April 1916.
Recommendation date: 11 December 1915

Other details from Roll of Honour CircularNo further information provided on RoH circular.
FateKilled in Action 8 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death8 August 1915
Age at death21
Age at death from cemetery records21
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 7), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
49
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Alfred and Isabella BURTON. Native of Kyneton, Victoria
Medals

Victoria Cross

'For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton and Dunstan, and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing; but Lieutenant Tubb, with the two corporals, repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemey twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade; but on each occasion they were repulsed, and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm, and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 28
Date: 24 February 1916

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Wounded in action, 25 April 1915. Reported wounded in action, 18 May 1915; rejoined Bn same day.

'For having volunteered and taken part in the forcing of Saphead D21 in the face of the enemy was appointed L/Corporal', 10 July 1915.

Killed in action, Lone Pine, 8-9 August 1915. Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Medals: Victoria Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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