Sir Samuel Roy Burston (21 March 1888 – 21 August 1960) was an Australian soldier, physician, and horse racing identity.

Having served with the Militia from an early age, he obtained a commission in the Australian Army Medical Corps in 1912 and served as a medical officer in the Gallipoli campaign and on the Western Front during World War I. Burston was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for supervising an advanced dressing station under fire during the Battle of Messines.

In 1945, he became Chief Commissioner of St John Ambulance Australia, serving until 1957, Burston was involved in thoroughbred racing both as a punter and as a racehorse owner.

James Burston would go on to command the 7th Infantry Brigade in the Gallipoli Campaign and rise to the rank of major general.

[6] He returned to Adelaide where he married Helen Elizabeth Culross on 16 April 1913 in St Michael's Anglican Church at Mitcham, South Australia.

[4] Although unable to pursue a military career, he obtained a commission as a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 14 October 1912.

Burston joined the Australian Imperial Force as a major in the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance on 26 March 1915.

[8] Burston remained in hospital until September 1916, when he was posted to the 11th Field Ambulance, part of the 3rd Division, then training at Larkhill in England.

For his conduct supervising an advanced dressing station the Battle of Messines, Burston was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

On the night of 6/7 June during a particularly heavy gas shell bombardment, he carried through with complete success the organisation of the dressing station and the directing of the duties of those under him, supervising and assisting in the treatment and evacuation of the wounded and gassed.

[10]Later that month, Burston was appointed senior medical officer at the Australian General Base Depot at Le Havre with the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel.

On 7 April 1919, he became Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS), AIF Depots in the United Kingdom with the temporary rank of colonel.

[14] A tall man at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m),[8] he was awarded the Royal Humane Society of Australasia's bronze medal for saving the life of a youth caught in the rip while surfing at Victor Harbor, South Australia in 1927.

[3] Burston officially joined the Second Australian Imperial Force on 13 October 1939 with the rank of colonel, and received the serial number VX2 (VX1 being Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey).

[7] When I Corps was formed in April 1940, Burston was appointed to its staff as Deputy Director of Medical Services (DDMS).

[7] Burston departed for the Middle East by Qantas flying boat along with Blamey and Brigadier Sydney Rowell on 12 June 1940, the party wearing civilian clothes as they were travelling through neutral countries.

[20] In November, Blamey organised a Headquarters, AIF in the Middle East and appointed Burston as its Director of Medical Services (DMS).

He dispatched Major Ian Murray Mackerras to investigate fly breeding in order to prevent an outbreak of diarrhoea.

[24] In July 1941, Burston reported that Australians on leave in Cairo from the Siege of Tobruk were underweight, and expressed doubts that the 9th Division might have the physical stamina to resist an attack.

The efficient medical arrangements at present existing in the AIF in the Middle East are due to his enthusiasm, tireless energy, far-sightedness, and administrative ability.

In this position, he found himself in charge of officers like Downes who were senior to him militarily, and others like Fairley and Mackerras who "were, in truth, superior to him in intellectual distinction and professional status.

"[4] He made numerous visits to the front in Papua-New Guinea, during September, November and December 1942, July 1943, and June 1944.

[31] Malaria was hyperendemic, and when Fairley and Mackerras visited Papua in June 1942 they found high rates of infection among the troops even before the fighting had begun.

[34] It fell to Burston promulgate the policies and practices that diminished the danger from disease and allowed the Australian Army to fight in New Guinea.

[35] In April 1945, Burston visited South East Asia Command, and then travelled to the United Kingdom,[8] where he ratified a series of agreements on the exchange of information regarding the development of new drugs, and for the funding of research scholarships by the Rockefeller Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

[40] Blamey recommended Burston for a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in September 1945, along with Frank Berryman, James Cannan, John Northcott, Jack Stevens and George Wootten.

This time he was successful,[42] and Burston was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (military division) in 1952.

[4] In retirement, Burston enjoyed playing golf and tennis, and was involved in thoroughbred racing, both as a punter and as a racehorse owner.

Burston's pall bearers included Major Generals Leslie Beavis, George Canet, Ronald McNicoll, Kingsley Norris, William Refshauge, Robert Risson and Colin Simpson.