Feb 27, 1895

Born in Ripley, Derbyshire, England to James and Mary Ann Burton.

Mar 18, 1916

Attested into the 126^th Battalion at Brampton, Ontario 

Ø      Number 775991

Ø      Next of kin given as Mary Ann Wild, mother, 3 Common Road, Huthwaite, Notts, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farm Labourer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

Aug 14, 1916

Embarked the SS Empress of Britain in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Aug 24, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England.

Oct 15, 1916

Transferred to the 116^th Battalion at Bramshott.

Dec 22, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion.

Dec 23, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 162 reinforcements from England.  He was TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion.

Jan 18, 1917

Left the CBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion.

Jan 21, 1917

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin.

Feb 24, 1917

Left the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion as part of a draft of 50 reinforcements to join the 21^st Battalion.

Feb 26, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the front lines near Vimy Ridge.

Apr 21, 1917

While the 21^st Battalion was in close support of the 2^nd Division front line near the Vimy-Farbus railway line, Private Burton was killed by an enemy artillery barrage.  His body was never recovered from the battlefield and is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France.

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Mary Ann Wild, No. 1 Meades Cottages, Torrence Ave., Todmorden, Ontario (now part of Toronto).