Name
John Burton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Air Mechanic
53425
Southern Aircraft Repair Depot, Royal Flying Corps
1st Advanced Regulating Station
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Pirton School Memorial
Biography
John appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school. The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records John as serving in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Parish and census records suggest the following possible men:
The first was baptised December 25th 1875, and was the son of Goliath and Mary Ann Burton (née Halfpenny). He would have been about thirty-eight at the outbreak of war, perhaps a little old to be in the RFC. Baptism records reveal nine children: Frederick (bapt 1864), Martha Elizabeth (bapt 1867), Joseph (bapt 1869), Rose (bapt 1872), Ellen (bapt 1874), John (bapt 1875), Charles (bapt 1879), Herbert David (b 1881) and Lilian Mary (bapt 1884). Mary died in 1902 and subsequently Goliath married again this time to Charlotte Weeden. If this is the correct man then it is possible that his brother Herbert is the Bert Burton who served and also survived.
The second man was born on November 7th 1880 to William and Jane Burton (née Walker), and so he would have been about thirty-three at the outbreak of war.
Baptism and census records for this man also reveal nine children: Peggy (bapt 1878), John (b 1880), James (b 1883), Charles (b 1886), Anne (b 1888), Herbert William (b 1891), Ellen (called Nellie, b c1894), Albert Edward (b 1897) and Emily May (b 1900).
The 1901 census records his occupation as an apprentice engineer, perhaps an occupation which would mean that he is the most likely of the two to have served in the RFC.
By 1911, this man had married Clara Titmuss and they were living with her parents, Frank and Elizabeth, near, or possibly in, the Blacksmith’s Arms, which was in the High Street, opposite the Blacksmith’s pond. John was recorded as a general engineer.
It is not certain which is the John Burton who served, but by 1918, he was recorded as A.M. (Air Mechanic) 53425, 1st A.R.S. (Advanced Regulating Station), S.A.R.D. (Southern Aircraft Repair Depot), Royal Air Force and his home was in Little Green. The latter man, with his engineering background, would seem most likely to be serving in the Royal Air Force.
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
