Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clive Britten BURDEN was born on 13th December, 1891 in North Adelaide, South Australia

His parents were John Britten BURDEN and Martha WILLIAMS

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Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Clive Britten Burden was the son of John B Burden of 'Beaumaris' at Henley Beach the founding pharmacist of Burden the Chemist with Pharmacies at 48 King William Street and at Henley Beach. Clive was a nephew of Dr Frank Burden, of the Esplanade at Henley Beach, who had been a missionary in China. The celebrated South Australian philanthropist Sir Charles Goode was Burden’s great uncle. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide where he was one of several medical graduates whose course had been accelerated at the University in 1916

Burden joined the AAMC on 7th July 1916 at which time he was 6' tall and weighed 13 stone 6lbs. He embarked overseas on 23 October 1916 on the transport Port Melbourne arriving in Devonport on the 28th December 1916.  After spending some time in camp at Salisbury Plain he was taken on strength of 1AGH on the 15th January1917 in France. From this he went to a Divisional Field Ambulance under Major Kenneth Fry, with whom he spent a month in the trenches. He contracted measles, and was invalided to England to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, with a pyrexia of unknown origin on the 29th April 1917. While still weak from this illness, he was on day leave on the platform of the underground near Victoria Station where he fainted and fell before an incoming train. He was taken to St George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner where he underwent amputation of both legs and his left arm. He died at 4.15pm on the 8th May 1917. A coronial enquiry returned a verdict of accidental death. His own disappointment at this unfortunate closing of a career which he embarked upon with great enthusiasm is expressed in his own comment, "Is it not rotten luck that, after being for months in France, this silly thing should happen to me? I fainted and fell, because I felt weak and ill." 

Clive Britten Burden was buried with full military honours at Brookwood Cemetery. A service, prior to the interment, by Chaplain A. White of AIF Headquarters in London was held in the chapel at the cemetery.   The Firing Party, band and mourners were from the 3rd (Reserve) Bn, The London Regiment stationed at Blackdown, Farnborough. The polished oak coffin was draped with the Australian Flag and covered with several lovely floral tributes. The coffin was borne to the graveside by members of the AIF Headquarters staff and four of his brother officers; these were Major Verco and Captains Steele, Haste and Craig.  Colonel Hayward, CO 1 AAH Harefield was also present as were Captain Burden's relatives;  Sir Charles Goode (great Uncle), Mrs Swinstead (aunt), Miss Swinstead (cousin) both from London and Miss ED Proud (cousin) of Blackwood in South Australia. Burden's grave in Brookwood Cemetery is located in the Australian Military Burial Ground and is grave number 179247. The photograph of the grave was transmitted to the family in Adelaide and provided great comfort to Mrs Burden who was widowed in 1922. Burden's family received his medals which comprised the British War Medal and Victory Medal.