[1] Born at Domaine Cataraqui, Sillery, Quebec, the son of the wealthy merchant John B. Burstall (1832–1896) and Fanny Bell Forsyth, daughter of James Bell Forsyth, the builder of Domaine Cataraqui, in 1831.
He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1908 and commanded the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in 1911.
[6] On 15 February 1917, Burstall was awarded the Order of Saint Stanislas, 2nd Class (with swords) by Nicholas II of Russia, and on 21 August 1919, he was the recipient of the French Croix de guerre.
[3] The town of Burstall, Saskatchewan, incorporated as a village in 1921, is named in his honour.
[10] Mount Burstall (2760m), which is part of the Spray Range, Kananaskis Park, Alberta, was named in 1918 in his honour.