BURTON, John Fellows
| Service Number: | 1665 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maffra, Victoria, Australia, 11 April 1890 |
| Home Town: | Heyfield, Wellington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Denison State School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Kew, Victoria, 22 October 1976, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Brind, Wall AD, Niche 148 |
| Memorials: | Rosedale Shire Honour Roll, Shire of Nunawading Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1665, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 1665, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 1665, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne | |
| 30 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1665, 24th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 15 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, 2nd Passchendaele , For conspicuous gallantry | |
| 11 Dec 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1665, 24th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John Fellows Burton was the son of Abel and Agnes Burton, of Surrey Hills, Victoria.
His younger brother, 3694 Sergeant Lorne Menzies Burton 49th Battalion AIF was killed in action in France on 1 April 1917, aged 22.
An older brother, 6723 Private Arthur Ernest Burton 6th Battalion AIF was returned to Australia seriously ill in 1919, and died only weeks later at his parent’s home in Surrey Hills, from pleurisy and influenza.
John (Jack) Burton was aboard the Southland (torpedoed troopship) that was conveying Australian troops from Alexandria to Mudros on 2 September 1915. He served on Gallipoli until the evacuation.
On 2 Sept 1916 he was promoted to corporal - in the field and on 19 April 1917, he was wounded by shrapnel to his left arm, severe, and evacuated to England.
He rejoined his battalion during July 1917 and was promoted to Sergeant during the heavy fighting around Ypres, Belgium. He was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal a few days later,
‘For conspicuous gallantry near Broodseinde in the advance on Daisy Wood on 9 October 1917. Although wounded in the thigh by shrapnel, this NCO remained with his platoon, his officer already being a casualty. His personal courage and high initiative were responsible for the successful establishing, under heavy enemy fire, of an advanced post in Daisy Wood. The cheerful endurance of immense pain no doubt contributed greatly in the keeping together of his fatigued men during a critical period. He has since been evacuated.’
Wounded during the above action he was again evacuated to England before rejoining the 24th Battalion at Christmas 1917. He was then fairly badly gassed on 22 March 1918, and was out of action for over a month.
Jack Burton suffered a fourth and more serious wound on 19 May 1918, a bullet smashing his right arm and shoulder, causing compound fractures and other complications. After treatment in England he was repatriated to Australia on 15 September 1918.