Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of John Britten Burden and Alartha Burden, of Henley Beach, South Australia. 

THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

A sad accident happened to Captain Clive Britten Burden, a young officer of the Australian Army Medical Corps, last Saturday, resulting in injuries from which he died yesterday.  He was standing on the platform of the Underground Station at Victoria when he suddenly fell forward in front of an approaching electric train, and although the train was pulled up with remarkable promptitude, the first (a driving) car passed over his legs before he could be rescued.  He was at once taken to a hospital where he lingered for three for four days.  He was conscious up to yesterday.

He came from South Australia, but has friends and family connections in England.  One of the latter, an aunt, who gave evidence at the inquest held today, stated that he was invalided from the Somme last month, owing to measles and bronchitis.  After the accident he told her "This is rotten luck, isn't it, after months in France, that his silly thing should have happened.  I fainted because I felt weak, and fell."

From inquiries made by a Herald reprsentative at the Australian Military Headquarters in London this afternoon, it would appear that Captain Burden had been on sick leave for some weeks, and was in a somewhat enfeebled state when the accident happened, which probably resulted, as he himself explained, from a king od fainting fit caused by his illness and general weakness.  He was only 25 years of age, and was unmarried.

The late Captain Burden was 25 years of age, and was the eldest son of Mr. J. B. Burden, chemist, of King William-street, Adelaide, who resides at Henley Beach. He was a medical student at the Adelaide University when the war broke out, but immediately after graduating, in July last year, he enlisted, and after obtaining his commission was sent to the front as a member of the A.A.M.C. The unit to which he was attached left the Outer Harbor in October, 1916, and went direct to England. For a time Captain Burden was with  the Australian troops encamped on Salisbury Plain, but subsequently he was transferred from there to the No. 2 Australian Base Hospital in France. Later, at his own request, he  was again transferred—this time to the 6th Divisional Field Ambulance of the A.I.F., commanded by Major Kenneth Fry (also a South Australian), and with it spent a month in the  trenches. Captain Burden then contracted measles, and apparently was invalided to England, and quite recently he sent a cable message to his parents stating that he was again  convalescent. It seems clear, however, from the details given above that he had not completely recovered. The deceased was educated at the public schools and Prince Alfred  College, and went from the latter institution to the Adelaide University, where he graduated in medicine. He was a young man of fine physique, standing over 6 ft. high, and his  loveable nature had endeared him to hosts of friends. At college and the University he took an active part in sport, and was no mean exponent of tennis, golf, lacrosse, and  rowing.

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.