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Robin (Bob) Archibald Burston was born on 28th June 1921 in Adelaide, South Australia, the youngest of three children of Major General Sir Samuel Roy Burston DSO, and his wife Helen Elizabeth, nee Culross, the daughter of barrister Sir Samuel Culross.  His father graduated in medicine at Melbourne University in 1913 before moving to South Australia and served with distinction in WW1 and was awarded the DSO. He then went on to be the DGMS at GHQ Australia in WW2. Burston’s grandfather was Major General James Burston who had joined the Victorian Volunteers in 1873.  His brother Samuel Gerard was born in 1915 in South Australia, and after his mother went to England for the duration of WWI, his sister, Helen Elizabeth, was born in 1917. Burston's parents returned to Adelaide in 1919.   Burston was educated at Queen’s School and St Peters College.  He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide. Aware of his father’s military history and his medical career Burston seemed destined to follow in his footsteps. In his first year of medicine in 1939 he was awarded the Elder Prize. He graduated MB BS in 1943, as the course was then shortened to five years due to the war. This was followed by his resident year at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, in 1944. Burston had decided to follow the family tradition and pursue a career in medical rather than surgical practice.

His military career commenced when he joined the Militia Forces on 25th November 1941. He served during WW2 when he was posted on active service on 15th January in 1945 after completing his resident year, first serving in Morotai and Dutch New Guinea. He then served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan 1946-47. He was discharged on 16th January 1948. He was transferred to the CMF on return to Australia and was appointed RMO to 10 Bn but relinquished that appointment to go overseas to further his studies on diabetes. He returned in 1952 and was soon promoted to Major. He was posted to 104 Military Hospital at Daw Park in South Australia as a physician in 1955 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.  Following Central Command postings, he was appointed CO 3 FdAmb in 1961 and posted as CO of 3AGH and promoted to Colonel in 1962. Following periods with the Command Staff Training Unit (CSTU) he was subsequently appointed Deputy Director Medical Services (DDMS) HQ Central Command in 1967.  Burston was called up to full time duty, in 1968, and appointed as a specialist physician with 1Aust Fd Hospital in Vietnam. Resuming his appointment as DDMS he was also appointed as a Consultant Physician to Australian Army Head Quarters. He relinquished his appointment as DDMS in 1970. He was appointed as Honorary Physician to the Governor General of Australia in 1971.  He retired from the Army Reserve, in 1978, and was on the Retired List in 4 MD. Subsequently he was appointed Hon Colonel RAAMC in 4MD (1980) and then Representative Honorary Colonel RAAMC (1983 to1984).  He was issued the 1939–1945 War Medal, the Australian Service Medal 1945-1976, the BCOF Japan Medal 1946–1952 the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975  (clasp Vietnam) AASM, the General Service Medal 1962 (clasp Vietnam), Australian Defence Medal and was awarded the Reserve Forces Decoration and the Efficiency Decoration.

Like most of his military medical colleagues Burston continued his professional medical career concurrently with his military career. He gained his MRACP in 1949 and studied in the United Kingdom for three years, 1950 to 1952, to equip him for a role as a specialist physician. He was appointed Assistant Medical Superintendent at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) in 1952 to 1953.  Burston commenced a consultant practice, in 1954, as Honorary Assistant Physician to the Diabetic Clinic and Honorary Outpatient Physician at the RAH. He was also appointed Honorary Physician to the Department of Veteran's Affairs and the Queen Victoria Hospital. He began a long association with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) in 1958 as one of its foundation honorary medical staff. He established the diabetic clinic at TQEH in the early 1960s and the diabetic education centre in 1982. He promoted the timely and efficient care of eye conditions associated with diabetes. Burston married Jennifer Lucy Anne Lindon, a nurse at the RAH, on 7th February 1953. She was the daughter of Sir Leonard Charles Edward Lindon a senior neurosurgeon, who served in WW1, and Jean Monteith, nee Marten. He retired from TQEH in 1987 after 30 years of service. Burston also was involved in many professional roles including; a life member of the Australian Medical Association, he served as Medical Secretary of the Post-Graduate committee in Medicine of the University of Adelaide and a member of the Adelaide University Council. He was Chairman of the SA Post-graduate Medical Education Association.   He was a member of the Medical Board of South Australia from 1975 to 1982 and a life member of Diabetes Australia. Like his father he was a keen surfer, tennis player and skier. He enjoyed cycling even extending this to long distance racing in his later years. This was reminiscent of his grandfather’s brother George Burston who founded the Melbourne Bicycle Club in 1878.  He cited farming interests as his most enduring recreation. His property at Cut Hill off the Victor Harbor road was a source of great joy and satisfaction. He was a Member of both the Adelaide and Naval, Military and Air Force Clubs. Robin Archibald Burston died on 9th April 2008 and is buried in the West Terrace cemetery in Adelaide. He was survived by his wife, now deceased, three daughters and two sons. None of his children followed his career in medicine nor the military, choosing careers in teaching, personal management and guidance.

Sources

Blood, Sweat and Fears II: Medical Practitioners of South Australia on Active Service After World War 2 to Vietnam 1945-1975.

Summers, Swain, Jelly, Verco. Open Book Howden, Adelaide 2016

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD

Burston joined the CMF on 25th November 1941 and was posted to the 2/AIF on 15th January in 1945. After undertaking the 1/45 Hygiene Course, he embarked for Morotai Island on 28th November 1945. He served there with 130 AGH and 67 Infantry Bn until he embarked for Kure on 7th February 1946, He then served with BCOF in Japan, from 1946 to 1947. Burston was discharged from the 2/AIF on 16th January 1948, and transferred back to the CMF on return to Australia, and was appointed RMO to 10 Bn. Following several Central Command postings, he was appointed CO 3 FdAmb in 1961 and then appointed as CO of 3AGH on promotion to colonel, in 1962. He was appointed DDMS HQ Central Command in 1967.  Burston had further service in Vietnam and Consultant appointments in the Army. He was awarded the Reserve Forces Decoration and the Efficiency Decoration.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD