Photo : Nichol Newcastle

Photo: Brian Chandler

Medal Index Card

Father Henry Burton Municipal Guide at Windsor

OffIcers Monckton Camp 1913. Burton 5th from Left

Herbert Edgar "Bert" Burton was born at Crescent Place, Kensington, London on the 26th July 1864, to Henry and Eliza Ellen Racheal [nee Daley], Burton, and was baptised on the 4th December 1864 at the Brompton Holy Trinity Church, Kensington and Chelsea.

Herbert's father Henry Burton was born at Cardiners Place, St Marys, Dover, on the 26th February 1839, baptised on the 31st March 1839, at St Mary's Church, [the son of James {born 7th January 1805, died 1st October 1868} Burton, and Jane {nee Irons}, born 1800 died 28th January 1865], Burton, they were married on the 16th May 1826. Henry died on the 26th May 1912. Henry married Eliza Ellen Rachel Dalley, {Daley}, in October 1861.
They had four children Fitzhenry Durant Spencer Burton born 28th November 1861, baptised on the 29th December 1861 at St Saviour Church, Chelsea, died 4th May 1917, [he emigrated to the USA in 1888 and he married a Katherine Ruhama Pifer, born 1870 died 1965], Herbert Edgar Burton, Eliza Florence Burton born 1871 died 1945 and Augustus Henry Burton, born 27th April 1876, died 6th May 1947, [he married a Ethel Bertha Nissen on the 21st August 1902 at Singapore].

Henry had been in the Army from about 1858. [He was a Coach Smith by trade before joining]. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, Fair Hair with Grey Eyes. In 1861 he was a Corporal, billeted at South Kensington. He was also at the Chatham School of Engineering as a Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor and Gillingham in the School of Military Engineering. He reached the rank of a Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor in the Royal Engineers, with the service number 5484 and served his time before finally being discharged on the 6th May 1879, aged 40. He completed 21 years and 1 month service, was awarded 5 Good Conduct badges. Henry had also been sent to St Helena for 1 year and 7 months and the Cape for 2 years 7 months as well. He and his wife moved then to Eton, Berkshire, after 1879. In 1881, they resided at Eton Cottage, Eton Wick Road, Eton. He then became a Municipal Guide at Windsor, Berkshire, where he continued to receive his Army pension. Then in 1901, they were residing at 23 Grove Road, New Windsor. They then finally moved to 35 Kings Road, Windsor, Berkshire. In his will dated 15th June, he left £317 6s to Eliza Rachel Burton Widow.

Herbert Edgar Burton enlisted in to the Coast Battalion, Royal Engineers at the age of 14 in 1878 as a Bugler. In 1881 he was at Alverstoke, Hampshire, as a bugler in Blockhouse Fort. By 1888 he was a Company Sergeant Major. In 1894 Herbert was a Warrant Officer and was commissioned in 1902 for 'good service in the field'.

Herbert married Annie Elizabeth Troy, [born Dover in 1864, died in September 1927], on the 15th May 1887 and moved to Gillingham where Herbert was posted to the Military Engineering School. They were residing at 7 Devon Villas, in Gillingham. In 1889 their first child was born Nora Florence born October 1890, died 20th June 1890, Harry Robert Troy Burton, born 1892 [who was in the Merchant Marine in WW1], Frederick Alan Burton born October 1896, died 1968, and Sydney Herbert Burton born 5th March 1893 died 20th November 1978, he married a Mary E. [nee Bacon], and were residing at 12 Hazelwood Road, Edmonton, Middlesex in 1939, he was also an ARP warden for the railway where he was employed as a Railway Clerk. [In his will he left £23340].

Herbert Edgar Burton served in the South African War as a Colour Sergeant Major, service number 15931, later commissioned as a Lieutenant. He was in the Searchlight Section of the Royal Engineers. Herbert took part in operations in Cape Colony in May 1900, then the Orange River Colony June 1900, then the Transvaal from July to the 29th November 1900. Then there were more operations in the Transvaal from the 30th November 1900 till May 1902, he received the Queens South Africa Medal with 3 clasp and the Kings South African Medal with 2 clasps.

His family were residing at 77 Kingswood Road, Gillingham in 1901.

On the 4th June 1902 he was gazetted a Lieutenant and moves to the North East at Tynemouth, to be based at Cliffords Fort, as he is now acting adjutant of the [Tyne Division Submarine Miners as it was called then], Tyne Division Royal Engineers (Volunteers) Electrical Engineers, taking over from a Major Martin who had been Adjutant for 16 years.

He now resided at 16 Latimer Street, Tynemouth with three of his children and a servant called Rebecca from North Shields.

On the 19th August 1904, Lieutenant H.E. Burton rescued a C. R. Gardner from the sea at Tynemouth, he received the Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society for this action.

Source : Harts Army Lists 1905

Herbert Edgar was well qualified to carry out these duties as not only was he recognised as an authority on electric lighting work, having specialised in that branch during the campaign in South Africa. He ably assisted Major Martin with the Coast battalion section gaining relevant experience. From the 16th April 1907 he is acting Adjutant at Cliffords Fort.

In 1905, Lieutenant Burton had been asked by the Royal National Life boat Institution to supervise the trials of their first motor lifeboat, which was to be installed at Tynemouth. As none of the local fishermen in those days would trust a motor-boat. Lieutenant Burton formed a crew from the 16th Company, Coast Battalion Royal Engineers.

They manned this motor-boat for 8 months, and eventually persuaded the local fisherman to form a crew, on condition Lieutenant Burton remained in charge of the boat!
He was appointed honorary superintendent of the Tynemouth boat and remained a life boatman for over twenty years.

In 1909, Lieutenant Burton was replaced [under War Office Authority], as Adjutant as Captain E, Robinson was appointed. This did not last long due to financial costs, and Lieutenant Burton took over the Adjutant Duties as before.

Lieutenant Burton was also a member of the Engineers Lodge, number 2599, initiating on May 13th 1899, passing his Engineer exams 7th April 1900, until 1909.

On the 11th January 1912, the Life boat 'Henry Vernon' made a memorable dash to Blyth on the occasion of the wreck Dunelm. Herbert Edgar Burton was with the crew and was awarded the Silver Medal from the National Institute.

By the 16th December 1911 Captain H. E. Burton was adjutant at Cliffords Fort. He was an acting Captain from the 20th June 1910 but being confirmed as Captain on the 4th June 1911. He was Adjutant until February 1915. In 1913 he attended the annual camp at Monckton.

On the outbreak of War, Captain H.E. Burton was in charge of the Electric Lights and the Telephones as part of the Tyne Garrison.

On the night of the 31st October the Tyne Electrical Engineers were able to render signal assistance at the wreck of the hospital ship Rohilla, Ship number 124149. A searchlight under the command of Lieutenant Mountain was ordered by Captain Burton to make its way to Whitby.

At four o'clock on the afternoon of October 31st, 1914 a wire was sent to the secretary of the Tynemouth lifeboat, which read "Please despatch motor lifeboat to wreck of Rohilla at Saltwick."

In November 1914 at Whitby Yorkshire, Henry was volunteering in the Tynemouth motor lifeboat when the hospital steamer Rohilla ran aground on Saltwick Nab near Whitby. Attempts by the Whitby and Upgang lifeboats both failed to reach the Rohilla, due to the overpowering seas, so the Tynemouth boat was called. Coxswain Robert Smith and Major Burton steered the Henry Vernon 44 miles through the night amid the storm, unaided by coast lights. The lifeboat reached the wreck, which had run aground two days before, and after all the other efforts had failed, rescued 50 people. Both men were awarded the EGM.

Burton, who had already been awarded the RNLI Silver Medal for the rescue of survivors of the SS Dunelm in 1913, was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal for the Rohilla rescue. Two other Gold Medals and four Silver Medals were also awarded that night to the crews of the Whitby, Upgang and Tynemouth lifeboats. Burton and Smith were eventually awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for their gallantry that night, when their awards were gazetted on 30th June 1924. Burton’s EGM would be upgraded to an George Cross on its inception in 1940. Sadly Smith had passed away prior to the exchange.

His medals are displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.

The George Cross (GC) is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded for gallantry "not in the face of the enemy" to both members of the British armed forces and to British civilians. It has always been able to be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to Commonwealth countries, most of which have established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians including police, emergency services and merchant seamen. Many of the awards have been personally presented by the British monarch to both recipients and in the case of posthumous awards to next of kin. These investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.

Initially, the Empire Gallantry Medal recognised acts of the highest bravery but was never considered equal to that of the Victoria Cross. The George Cross succeeded the Empire Gallantry Medal and all those living that had been awarded the medal, and all posthumous awards from the outbreak of World War II, were obliged to exchange their medal for the George Cross. In 1971, the living recipients of either the Albert Medal or Edward Medal, that respectively recognised the saving of life and acts of bravery following industrial accidents, were invited to exchange their medals for the George Cross; 24 recipients elected not to exchange their medal.

After the rescue Captain Burton received an official Telegram from the Admiralty in the form of official recognition, this was followed by a message from the King of Belgium. [J'exprime mon admiration du valiant equipage du Henry Vernon- Albert], Herbert also received the Gold Medal of the Royal National Life-boat institution as well as the American Gold Cross of Honour. A public subscription was opened as the result of which Captain Burton was presented with a silver tea service and Lieutenant Mountain received a Silver Cigarette case at the Albion Assembly Rooms at North Shields by the Duke of Northumberland.

In February 1915, Captain Burton handed his Adjutant duties over to Captain J. Collins of the Coast Battalion. Captain Burton was detailed to form a school of instruction in field engineering, signalling and telephony for Infantry Officers and N.C.Os.

The school started in a small way and Captain Burton collected as much equipment from the stores at Clifford's Fort much of it was old and outdated. Short courses of instruction were given then practical demonstrations in open spaces near Percy Park, Tynemouth. The numbers sent for instruction grew very rapidly so much so that the Grand Hotel was Commandeered.

In March the school was called the Northern Command School of Bombing, Signalling and Telephony, and Field Engineering. From the 5th April 1915, Captain Burton is promoted to a Brevet Major.

The school had outgrown its accommodation and the school was moved to Farnley Park, Otley Yorkshire, where it continued to grow in importance. It still remained under the command of Major Burton till the end of the War.

Captain Burton and Lieutenant Hall made frequent visits to France to acquire first hand knowledge. For his services Major Burton, [became a Major on the 5th September 1915], received the O.B.E., for his services, also was brought to the attention of the Secretary of State for War three times.

Major Burton returned in April 1921 to be adjutant as SIX Electrical and Mechanical companies, [E & M], Defence Force were required due to the Coal Strike in 1921. He ceased to be Adjutant from the 1st August 1921.

From the 1st January 1922 he became adjutant of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division Royal Engineers where he stayed until the 1st November 1925.

Berwick Advertiser Thursday 02/12/1937.
35 Year Clean Record
A 73 year-old retired Army officer, Major Herbert Edgar Burton, Windward, Beadnell, Chathill, as charged at Newcastle Police Station on Saturday with careless driving and with not allowing free passage across a Belisha crossing.

The first charge was dismissed, and the second charge, to which Major Burdon pleaded guilty, was also dismissed on payment of 26s 6d costs, in view of defendant's 35 years blameless driving.

The case arose out of a complaint made to a police officer at the Belisha crossing at Forsyth Road, on the Great North Road between Gosforth and Newcastle.

Complainant was Mr I. Mernseh, coal exporter, Highbury, Newcastle, who said in evidence that he used the crossing four times a day "wanted to see it safe."

Major Burton said that when he came to the crossing he saw people crossing the road, but they were not in his course. He was driving at not more than 25 m.p.h.

In World War 2 he enlisted with the 2/50th (Northumbrian) Divisional Royal Engineers. He devoted a lot of his free time to the North Shields Sea Scouts movement and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He himself was a keen yachtsman and he held a master mariner's ticket of the Board of Trade. In November 1941, he went to Buckingham Palace to receive his George Cross for his gallant action in 1914, 27 years earlier. Major Burton then was an ex-officio skipper and secretary of the Tynemouth Life Boat that carried out the gallant rescue of 50 nurses and doctors when the hospital ship Rohilla, sank during a storm off Whitby on October 1914.

After he came to reside at Beadnell, Major Burton took a great interest in the district. In 1937 he was elected to the Belford District Council to represent Beadnell. In 1935 he became president of the Seahouses British Legion, and for some years was secretary of the Beadnell Regatta and was the founder and organiser of the Beadnell Boat Club of which he was captain.

He was also a keen member of the Tynemouth Sailing Club.

On its Formation he joined the Home Guard, and later took up the appointment of Fishery Transport Officer for the district of Beadnell. During the last War he commanded Oley R.E. School and many thousands of students passed through his hands.

Herbert, after the death of his first wife, married on the 23rd July 1928 Margaret Jane Pillar, [born 25th September 1893, died 23rd September 1977].

He died on the 4th December 1944 at Beadnell, Northumberland. He left £1312 8s 2d to Thomas Alfred Bertram Forster solicitor and Margaret Jane Burton widow. His address at this time was stated as Windward, The Harbour, Beadnell.

HMHS Rohilla Website
EU Wrecksite today
You Tube Archive Film
See his Medals at the Royal Engineer Museum