Alexander Burton

Infobox Military Person
name= Alexander Stewart Burton
lived= 20 January 1893 - Death date and age|1915|8|9|1893|1|20|df=yes
placeofbirth= Kyneton, Victoria, Australia
placeofdeath= Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey


caption= Alexander Stewart Burton from a Gallaher cigarette card.
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|Australia Australia
branch= First Australian Imperial Force
serviceyears= 1914-1915
rank= Lance Corporal
commands=
unit= 7th Battalion
battles= World War I
*Battle of Gallipoli
awards=Victoria Cross
Mention in Despatches
laterwork=

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" [ [http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=1935340&NS=Y National Archives of Australia] - Service record of Burton, Alexander Stewart, VC : Service Number 384] . He was awarded the VC for the following act:LondonGazette|issue=29328|startpage=10154|date=15 October 1915|accessdate=2007-11-15]

Burton was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton on 28 January 1916.LondonGazette|issue=29455|supp=yes|startpage=1208|date=28 January 1916|accessdate=2007-11-15]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.

Honours and awards

*Victoria Cross - 9 August 1915
*1914-15 Star
*British War Medal
*Victory Medal
*Mentioned in Despatches - 28 January 1916

References

*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