BURTON, William


No.20261, Private, William BURTON
Aged 27


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 22nd January 1916


Born in 1889 (qtr 1 Bury St.Edmunds 4a:713) son of James and Sarah J BURTON (née RIPTON)

1891 census...Age 2, with his twin brother Arthur, he was at 31 Cemetery Rod with his father James BURTON [41] a blacksmith;his mother Sarah J [39]; sister Margaret (charwoman); brothers George W [14] milkboy, Charles Victor, Thomas [9], and James R [8]; sister Frances [5] (actually brother Francis). All registered as Bury St.Edmunds born.

1901 census...Aged 12, with his twin Arthur he was at 60 Guildhall Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents(father now engineer fitter, mother back to being born in Ireland; sister Margaret[28] domestic cook; brothers George [24] printer, Charles [22] engineering fitter, Thomas [19] moulder in foundary,and Francis [15] engineering turner; sisters Dora [9] and Edith [7].

1911 census...Aged 22, a cellar man, he was at 52 College Street, Bury St.Edmunds, with his parents (father unemployed); brothers Charlesa labourer, Thomas a core? maker, twin Artur asssitant butcher, and sister Edith Ruth.

He married Ethel Amelia PLUME [6-11-1891] in Bury St Edmunds (3rd qtr 1911 4a:1917)
They had three children, Frank William Arthur born 19th February 1912, Harry Ernest Leslie born 9th July 1913, who sadly died on 6th October 1916 and Beatrice Alice Maud born 11th June 1915. The family address was 38 Northgate Street, Bury St.Edmunds


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. The 2nd battalion in January 1916 were in trenches in front of the Bluff, near the Ypres-Comines canal. The War Diary:-
Took over from 10th R.W.F in trenches
At 2:15 am the enemy exploded a mine under the small crater SE of the Bluff containing the two original craters and creating one enormous new one, 125 yards long, 50 yards wide and 60 feet deep.The SE spur of the BLUFF collapsed completely engulfing the Glide, 29R and Xmas Trench.
The garrison of trench 28 immediately opened up rapid fire. The enemy did not attempt to occupy the crater nor did he turn on his artillery.
Meanwhile 2nd Lt. Barber, the officer commanding the Bluff defences collected all available men and together with C.S.M. Theobald rushed up the left side of the crater and organised its defence. Sgt Bragg and four men were only 15 yards from the crater when the mine exploded and were all buried. Sgt Bragg however succeeded in extricating himself and dug out the four men, he then proceded to the crater and remained there all day."


Sgt Bragg was awarded the D.C.M. for his actions. Nearly 100 men were either killed, buried alive or injured. At least 23 were never recovered or at least identified and they are named on the Menin Gate.




William Burton is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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