Name
Louis Burton
7 Oct 1874
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/06/1917
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
Royal Field Artillery
'D' Battery, 70th Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. HILAIRE CEMETERY, FREVENT
III. A. 3
France
Headstone Inscription
ONLY GOODNIGHT BELOVED NOT FAREWELL YOUR LOVING WIFE EDITH
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Louis Burton was born in Norwich on 7 Oct 1874 (baptised 2 Aug 1875), the eldest son of Robert Burton, stock& shares broker and insurance agent, and Alice (nee Clark).
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Louis, Winifred (born 1876), Robert Harold (born 1877), Lilian (born 1875), together with Alfred J Clark (brother in law & bank clerk, born ) and 3 domestic servants, were living at Surrey Street, Norwich.
Louis’s father Robert Gent Burton died in 1883.
On the 1891 Census the family of widowed mother, Louis (bank clerk), Robert Harold Lilian, and 2 domestic servants were living at 63, Surrey Road, Norwich.
Louis enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery on 17 May 1900 as a Gunner ( he had already been associated with 1st East Anglian Brigade RFA , a Norfolk Territorial Unit later CCLXX (270) Brigade.
On the 1901 Census Louis was recorded Barracks at Ranelagh, Athlone, Ireland.
Louis married Edith Jane Frizzele on 18 Dec 1903 at Church of Ireland Parish Church, Athlone.
He was a professional soldier who had joined the Royal Artillery in 1900 and had progressed through the ranks to become a Battery Sergeant Major and Instructor of Gunnery at the Artillery Schools in Shoeburyness and Larkhill.
Served in Bangalore, India as Battery Sergeant Major. 8th Battery & No 10 Ammunition Column. Instructor of Gunnery at Shoeburyness & Larkhill. D Battery, 70th Brigade.
By the time the Great War began, Louis had already served in the Royal Artillery for over 14 years.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War Louis had been serving for 14 Years and with the shortage of Officers was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 26 Sep 1914. He arrived in France in Sep 1914 and saw much service on the Western Front, taking part in many of the major battles of the Great War in the Ypres Salient and on the Somme. By 1917 he was a Major (Temporary) and was in command of D Battery of 70 Brigade RFA who were attached to 15th (Scottish) Division at Arras. Throughout May 1917, they were in action at Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, supporting the infantry actions in the Battle of Arras.
At the end of the month they moved to a rest area near the village of Conchy-Sur-Canche, 25 miles East of Arras. On the 8 Jun 1917 Louis Burton was in Galametz, along with two of his men, when a runaway General Service wagon, pulled by several horses, dashed past them. Louis Burton jumped up on his horse and ordered his men to follow him as he gave chase. After riding for about a quarter of a mile it appears that his horse slipped and fell, dragging Louis with it. He returned to his unit that night but was in some pain and was taken to a Field Hospital where he was kept under observation. Although it was initially believed that his injuries were minor, his pain and discomfort continued to heighten. Eventually, he was moved to No.6 Stationary Hospital at Frevent, where died the following day, (9 Jun 1917).
He was in command of 'D' Battery, 70th Brigade, which, throughout May 1917, were in action at Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, supporting the infantry actions in the Battle of Arras. At the end of the month they moved to a rest area near the village of Conchy-Sur-Canche, 25 miles East of Arras. On the 8th June 1917 Louis Burton was in Galametz, along with two of his men, when a runaway General Service wagon, pulled by several horses, dashed past them. Louis Burton jumped up on his horse and ordered his men to follow him as he gave chase. After riding for about a quarter of a mile it appears that the horse slipped and fell, dragging Louis with it. He returned to his unit that night but was in some pain and was taken to a Field Hospital where he was kept under observation. Although it was initially believed that his injuries were minor, his pain and discomfort continued to heighten. Eventually, he was moved to No.6 Stationary Hospital at Frevent, where died the following day.
A post mortem revealed that the cause of death had been a torn lower intestine. Louis Burton is buried at St. Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, France.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £15 and arrears of £96 11s 5d was paid to his widow Edith, who also received probate of £434. Their Son, Louis Howard Burton, became Wing Commander RAF; killed in action during World War 2. Great War forum. Medals applied for in 1960.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Louise Fryer, Jonty Wild
