Alexander Burton
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| Alexander Stewart Burton | |
|---|---|
| 20 January 1893 - 9 August 1915 (aged 22) | |
 Alexander Stewart Burton from a Gallaher cigarette card. |
|
| Place of birth | Kyneton, Victoria |
| Place of death | Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey |
| Allegiance | First Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1914-1915 |
| Rank | Lance-Corporal |
| Unit | 7th Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Gallipoli |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Alexander Stewart Burton VC (20 January 1893 - 9 August 1915) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 August 1914, and embarked with the 7th Battalion (Victoria), on 19 October 1914. He was appointed Lance-Corporal on 10 July 1915 for "having volunteered and taken part in the forcing of Saphead D21 in the face of the enemy"[1]. He was awarded the VC for the following act:[2]
| “ | [On 9 August 1915, at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey]... the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton and Dunstan) and a few men. [The enemy] advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb with the two corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing the barricade, but on each occasion they were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wonded in the head and arm and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs. | ” |
Burton was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton on 28 January 1916.[3]
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.
[edit] Honours and awards
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- Victoria Cross - 9 August 1915[2]
- 1914-15 Star
- British War Medal
- Victory Medal
- Mentioned in Despatches - 28 January 1916[3]
[edit] References
- ^ National Archives of Australia - Service record of Burton, Alexander Stewart, VC : Service Number 384
- ^ a b London Gazette: no. 29328, page 10154, 15 October 1915. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
- ^ a b London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29455, page 1208, 28 January 1916. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Burton, Alexander Stewart |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Burton, Alex |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Gallipoli VC receipient |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 20 January, 1893 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Kyneton, Victoria |
| DATE OF DEATH | 9 August, 1915 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey |
