Alexander Stewart BURTON VC

Alexander Stewart BURTON VC Update Details

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BURTON, Alexander Stewart

Service Number:	384
Enlisted:	18 August 1914, Seymour, Victoria
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	7th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Kyneton, Victoria, Australia, 20 January 1893
Home Town:	Euroa, Strathbogie, Victoria
Schooling:	Euroa State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Ironmonger
Died:	Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 8 August 1915, aged 22 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Cemetery Memorial Panel 28
Tree Plaque:	Halls Head Mandurah Memorial Pine Trees
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Euroa Fallen of Euroa District Honour Roll, Euroa School No 1706 Roll of Honour, Euroa St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Alexander Stewart Burton VC Memorial Window, Euroa St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Honour Roll WW1, Euroa Telegraph Park, Euroa VC Memorial Park Statues, Euroa War Memorial, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Kyneton War Memorial, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, North Bondi War Memorial, North Brother War Memorial, Tuncurry Battle of Lone Pine Victoria Cross Recipients Memorial, Winchelsea WWI Memorial

18 Aug 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Seymour, Victoria
19 Oct 1914:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 384, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: ''
19 Oct 1914:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 384, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne
8 Aug 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 384, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 384 awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1915-08-08 - 1915-08-09
9 Aug 1915:	Honoured Victoria Cross, The recommendation for the award of the Victoria Cross to Corporals Burton and Dunstan reads: 'I have the honor to recommend that the names of No. 2130, Corporal W. Dunston, [sic] and No. 384, Corporal A.S. Burton (killed) both of 7th Battalion, A.I. Force, be submitted to the G.O.C.-in-Command for consideration for the Victoria Cross in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in action. On the morning of August 9th at Lone Pine, the enemy made an attack on the centre of the line in great force at a point held by Lieut. F.A. Tubb with a party of men and acting Corporals Burton and Dunston. The enemy advanced up the sap in the dark and placed a charge of guncotton or other explosive against the parapet of sandbags, which hurled the parapet and the party guarding it back with great violence. About 1 foot of the parapet still remained. This Officer and NCO's rushed to the remains of the parapet to defend it against the enemy, whom they repulsed with loss and built up the parapet again. The enemy advanced, and under a hail of bombs placed another charge, which again demolished the parapet, and inflicted a painful wound on Lieut. Tubb's head, which dazed him for the moment. The two NCO's however, again pushed back and restored the parapet, Corporal Burton being killed by a bomb, which struck him in the face, and the parapet was again destroyed. Corporal Dunston and Lieut. Tubb again restored it with the assistance of another man. Corporal Dunston was severely wounded and Lieut. Tubb received a painful wound in the arm.'

Biography contributed by Ned Young

Australian Dictionary of Biography - by G. P. Walsh

Alexander Stewart Burton (1893-1915), soldier, was born on 20 January 1893 at Kyneton, Victoria, son of Alfred Edward Burton, grocer, and his wife Isabella, née Briggs, both Victorian-born. The family moved to Euroa and, after attending the state school, Burton followed his father into the firm of A. Miller & Co., working in the ironmongery department. He was a chorister in the Euroa Presbyterian Church, a member of the town band, and was active in sport. In 1911 he began his period of compulsory military service.

On 18 August 1914 Burton enlisted in the 7th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, and embarked for Egypt in October. On 4 April 1915 his battalion embarked for Lemnos and on the 25th took part in the landing at Anzac. Burton, who was ill with a throat infection, watched the landing from a hospital ship but a week later he was in the trenches. The 7th Battalion was then fighting near 400 Plateau; on 5 May it left Anzac beach to participate in the attack on Krithia, then returned to serve at Monash Valley and Steele's Post. Burton was slightly wounded in action and in July was promoted lance corporal for having volunteered for and taken part in a dangerous operation; he was later promoted corporal.

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