Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Enlisting in Lismore on 29 August 1914, groom Albert Arthur Burton was the second Auburn Memorial man to enlist into the AIF. He was 22 years of age and he nominated his widowed mother, Charlotte Thornton of Auburn Road, Auburn, as his next-of-kin. On his enlistment paper, where asked about previous military service, Burton stated ‘2 years RAFA (deserted)’.
Posted to the Light Horse, Burton embarked on the Star of Victoria on 24 September 1914. The troopship sailed to Albany in Western Australia to join some 38 other ships forming the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand forces departing for the First World War.
On arrival in Egypt, the Anzac forces started four months of training in the shadow of the pyramids. During this interval Trooper Burton served ’21 days detention for disobeying an order’. Burton arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular on 9 May 1915, as dismounted infantry for the horses had been left behind in Egypt. He was killed in action five days later in Monash Gully and was buried in Quinn’s Post Cemetery.
In 1987, Burton’s half sister, Ethel Effie Catherine Thornton, requested the Gallipoli Medallion, then being awarded by the Australian Government to Gallipoli veterans. She states that Burton’s mother had died and she was Albert Burton’s closest surviving relative.
Albert Burton is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Auburn Public School First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
- 1914-1915 Star