Burton, Sidney: Service no. 157097

Source: October 1916 casualty.

Pte. Sidney Burton, 33d Oakwood avenue, who was killed in action Oct. 2nd, left Toronto just [x] months abo to the day with the 81st Battalion. Overseas he was transferred to another battalion, and was over three months in the trenches when killed. He is married and his widow and 4 boys live at the above address. He is a plasterer by trade and came out of London ten years ago. He is 33 years old. One brother, W.H. Burton, have been at the front for some months.

Pte. Burton is well known in England as a bicycle rider, and holds many prizes and medals.

For nearly three years Pte. Burton worked on the cement stonework of the new Knox College.

Toronto Star. October 25, 1916

Family photo – Wife Valentina Burton and children left to right, Charles 7 years, in mother's arms, Samuel 3 years, Lawrence 5 years, and twin Sidney Jr. 5 years. The twins turned five years on October 29th 1916. Source: CVWM — Family photo – Wife Valentina Burton and children left to right, Charles 7 years, in mother’s arms, Samuel 3 years, Lawrence 5 years, and twin Sidney Jr. 5 years. The twins turned five years [old] on October 29th 1916. Source: CVWM

Family photo – Son Sidney Jr. with uncles Charles and Harry, brothers of Sidney Sr. Harry was the brother who was mentioned in the newspaper obituary as "fighting in the trenches." Source: CVWM — Family photo – Son Sidney Jr. with uncles Charles and Harry, brothers of Sidney Sr. Harry was the brother who was mentioned in the newspaper obituary as “fighting in the trenches.” Source: CVWM

Summary of Service for Private Sidney Burton, reg. no. 157097

Amended September 19, 2017 to reflect new information.

Date	Event	Remarks
June 4, 1883	Born	London, England, Son of Charles Burton and Ellen Amelia Burton
January 20, 1884	Baptism	Haverstock Hill Holy Trinity, Camden, England
March 10, 1907	Arrives Canada	Sidney Burton immigrated to Canada with his parents and brother Harry, on board the Virginian. Port of arrival Halifax, Nova Scotia. Lists his occupation as plasterer.
August 29, 1908	Marriage	Sidney married Valentina Judd, 28, born London, England. Marriage witnessed by Carrie W. EDWARDS & Emma E. WRIGHT, both of Toronto, Ontario. Reg# 00328-08.
September 13, 1915	Enlists	Enlisted in Toronto, Ontario with the 81^st Battalion. He is married to Valentina Burton, residing at 332 Oakwood Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
October 1915 to April 1916	81^st Battalion	This battalion was raised and trained in Toronto and shipped overseas April 28, 1915.
April 1915		Assigns $20.00 per month pay to his wife.
April 28, 1916	Leaves for England	Via the S.S. Olympic, leaving Halifax.
May 1, 1916	Embarks Halifax
May 6, 1916	Debarks Liverpool
May 6 to June 24, 1916	Sandling Camps	Located near Folkestone, Kent, the Sandling Camps (East and West) were a major training base for units before they were transferred from their reinforcing battalions to active service on the Continent.
June 24, 1916	Transferred to 18^th Battalion	Still in West Sandling, Kent.
June 29, 1916	Proceeds to France	Arrives at the Canadian Base Depot, Etaples, France and officially TOS (taken on strength) with the 18^th Battalion.
July 12, 1916	Proceeds to join unit.
July 14, 1916	Joins 18^th Battalion in the field.	Joins unit at Quebec Camp in the Ypres Sector. The War Diary makes no mention of any replacement arriving on that date but on July 13, 1916 100 o.r.s. (other ranks) arrived as replacements. It may be that the processing of the replacements was not finalized until the 14^th. The Battalion had been resting and training from July 5 – 15 and Private Burton arrived only 1 to 2 days before the Battalion was assigned to active duty in the trenches.
October 2, 1916	“Killed in Action”	The Circumstances of Death Register card gives no other information than this and this description was quite common. On October 1, 1916, the 18^th Battalion relieved the 21^st Battalion at Courcelette, the Somme. The Battalion, and Private Sidney had suffered the Canadian attack on Flers-Courcelette September 15, 1916 where many members of the 18^th Battalion perished. Regrettably, the 18^th Battalion War Diary is bereft of specific detail about the events from September 1916 to December 1916, in part, because of the high level of activity and casualties made keeping the war diary accurate and up-to-date difficult. What is known is that the Battalion went back into the line on October 1, 1916 and on October 2, 1916 advanced 500 yards and held the positions taken. No mention of casualties was made by the 18^th Battalion Diary or the 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade Diary for that date.
January 4, 1917	Promoted to Sergeant	This promotion is notated on his assigned pay document and subsequently cancelled due to his death due to active service. This is an unusual entry in that most privates stepped up in rank from private to lance-corporal, to corporal, then to lance-sergeant, and then to sergeant.
June 17, 1920	Interned Courcelette British Cemetery, Somme, France. Plot I.F.5.	His headstone has the following inscription: “HE DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY AT THE CALL OF DUTY” and this inscription is attributed to Mrs. V. Burton, 375 Oakwood Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
Forever		Remembered for his service and duty to country.

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