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Harold Burton - Information

Harold was one of twelve children of William James and Emily Miriam Burton. Like most of his siblings, Harold was born in Sydney in 1889. He had grown up in the Campbelltown area, after his mother settled on Percy St in Ingleburn with her new husband, William McKenzie. Harold lived with his mother and step-father, working as a labourer. In June 1915, the Burtons said goodbye to Harold’s younger brother, Herbert Leslie, when he left for war. On the 3rd of November, Harold also enlisted in the AIF at Lismore, aged 26.

Harold left Sydney on the HMAT Nestor on the 9th of April 1916. He first landed in the Middle East, and by July was training at Rollestone Camp in England. In early October, he was shipped to France and was taken on strength to the 20th Battalion. After being stuck in the muddy trenches on the Western Front, Harold developed trench foot. He was taken out of the lines by field ambulance on the 17th November 1916 and transported to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen. He was then evacuated to England for extensive treatment. By October the following year, Harold was sent back to the 20th Battalion. In 1918, Harold was fighting as a rifle grenadier, as the Allies were smashed by the German March offensive. He and his mates counter-attacked at Villers-Bretonneux, where on the night of 6th of April Harold was wounded by a shell. He then succumbed to his wounds, passing away on the 7th of April 1918. His record states that he was probably buried after the Amiens Battle, however, the location of his gravesite is now lost. Today his name is recorded on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France.