Alexander Burton

[1] Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Burton enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 August 1914 and posted to the 7th Battalion.

Killed in this action, he was recommended by his battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Harold "Pompey" Elliott, for the award of the Victoria Cross (VC).

[3] Burton's VC was gazetted on 15 October 1915; the citation read as follows: For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine Trenches on the 9th August, 1915.

In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton and Dunstan and a few men.

Supported by strong bombing parties the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing the barricade, but on each occasion they were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.Burton has no known grave and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.