Grenadier Guards
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Burton Memorial Window in St Nicolas, Gt Bookham To the Glory of God and in loving memory of John Stanley Burton MA, 2nd Lieut Grenadier Guards Born 4th Oct 1884, Killed in Action near Ypres 16th May 1916 images source: Bill Whitman |
Second Lieutenant
BURTON, JOHN STANLEY
Died 16/05/1916
Aged 31
Grenadier Guards,
attd. 2nd Bn.
Son of John William and Mary Stanley Burton, of 15, Gledhow Gardens,
London, S.W.5; husband of Lilian Burton, of Fife Lodge, Great Bookham,
Surrey. M.A.
Born in 1884 John was an only son. Educated at Charterhouse 1899-1902, School House Girdlestoneites, he took an MA at Exeter College, Oxford, then became a timber merchant.
In 1909 he was commissioned into 5th Bn. East Surrey Regiment. In the Great War he was attached to 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards.
According to the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser, 24 February 1912 John and Lilian were married on Feb. 17th, at St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, by the Rev. T. F. Hobson. M.A., Vicar of Leatherhead, assisted by the Rev. Boyd M.A. of the Parish.
His family: father,
mother and wife, Lilian, moved into Fife Lodge (now demolished, Fife Road)
in Church Road after the death of Mrs Chrystie in 1911.
As shown above there is a memorial window to him in the Sanctuary of the
Church.
He was killed at Ypres in May 1916 and is buried in the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. I D 80. On his grave his wife Lilian chose the words ‘Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,’ from Revelation 2.
There are Burtons in the Burials Register 1887, 1914, 1930 Lillian, 1942 John William, 1943 Mary Stanley.
Lilian Burton, who died at the age of 50, was buried on 26 Nov 1930 at St Nicolas.
Dorking
and Leatherhead Advertiser 15 February 1913
BIRTHS. – On Feb. 6 at Fife Lodge, Great Bookham, the wife of John
Stanley Burton, of a son.
Dorking and
Leatherhead Advertiser 20 May 1916
LEATHERHEAD
& THE WAR
LIEUT. STANLEY BURTON KILLED
We regret to learn that Lieut. J Stanley Burton, only son of Mr and Mrs John W Burton who formerly resided at the Red House, Leatherhead, has been killed in action in France, the sad intelligence being conveyed to the parents by a War Office telegram on Wednesday evening.
Soon after the outbreak of the war Lieut. Burton obtained a commission in the Royal Fusiliers, and was for some time in the U.P.S. Batt. at Woodcote Park, Epsom. Later he transferred to the Grenadier Guards, and had been in France only about two months when he met his death.
Lieut. Burton, who was 32 years of age, was well known in the Leatherhead district, having resided with his parents at the Red House for several years after leaving Cambridge [sic], where he obtained the BA degree, Lieut. Burton entered his father’s firm in London, but like so many in his station in life, he gave up business for the Army soon after the war broke out. He was well qualified for a commission, having been identified with the Leatherhead Territorials for several years with the rank of lieutenant, and after he married and went to live at Great Bookham he took a very keen interest in that detachment of the Territorials and brought the men to a high standard of training.
During
his residence in Leatherhead Lieut.
Burton interested himself in many movements in the town. He was an
active supporter of the Leatherhead Rovers Cricket Club, and being a
capable cuist he was a member of the team of the Leatherhead Unionist
club when they won the Oxshott Billiard League in the first year of the
competition. He was also a member of the Leatherhead Golf Club and a
very capable player.
About four years ago Lieut. Burton married a daughter of the late Dr Bostock of Chichester, and afterwards resided at Fife Lodge, Great Bookham. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mrs Burton, who resided in Leatherhead some years before her marriage, in her terrible loss, while deep and genuine sympathy will also be felt for deceased’s parents, Mr and Mrs John Burton, who are actively associated with much good work during their residence in Leatherhead, and who since the outbreak of the war have lent the Red House as a Red Cross Hospital to the local branch of the society.
Surrey Mirror 26 May
1916
THE CASUALTY LIST
OFFICERS KILLED
Sec.-Lieut. John Stanley Burton, Grenadier Guards, killed, was the only son of Mr and Mrs John William Burton of 15 Collingham Gardens S.W. and the Red House, Leatherhead.
Educated at Saint Andrew's School Eastbourne, at Charterhouse, and Exeter College, Oxford, he was gazetted to the Grenadier Guards in December, 1915, having previously held commissions in the 5th East Surrey Regiment (T.F.), from from from February, 1909, to September, 1912, in the 18th Royal Fusiliers (Public Schools Corps) from September, 1914, to June, 1915, and the 28th Royal Fusiliers until he was transferred to the Grenadier Guards.
Lieut. Burton leaves a
widow, the daughter of the late Dr Alfred Stileman Bostock, of Chichester,
and one son.
The Surrey Advertiser
27 May 1916
THE LATE LIEUT. J.S. BURTON
Further particulars are to hand respecting the death of Lieut. J. Stanley
Burton of Fife House, Great Bookham, which we announced in our last week's
issue.
It appears that he was writing a letter home to his wife, when an explosive shell burst in his trench and killed him. General sympathy is extended to his widow, who is naturally prostrate with grief. Lieut. Burton who had been married about four years, and had one child, was expected home on leave in the course of the next week or two.
Soon after the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in the Royal Fusiliers, and was for some time with the Public Schools Brigade at Woodcote Park, Epsom. Later he transferred to the Grenadier Guards, and was sent out to the front about two months ago.
Lieut. Burton was identified with the Leatherhead Territorials for some time with the rank of lieutenant, and after his marriage he took a keen interest in the Bookham detachment, bringing the men to a high standard of efficiency. When the local V.T.C. was inaugurated he helped a great deal in drilling the members.
An ardent sportsman, he was an active supporter of the Leatherhead Rovers' cricket club, a member of Leatherhead Golf Club, and a capable cueist, being a member of the Leatherhead Unionist billiards team when they won the Oxshott league in the first year of the competition.
The
Surrey Advertiser Monday, July 10, 1916
Second-Lieut. John Stanley Burton, Grenadier Guards, of Five Lodge,
Great Bookham, who was killed at Ypres on May 16, only son of Mr John
William Burton, of Collingham Gardens, SW and of the Red House,
Leatherhead, left £3,230.
Perhaps Mrs Burton got
involved with Scouting to help her son ... "1st Bookham Cub Pack (then
called Wolf Cubs) was registered in June 1924, pack number 7044, with
Lilian Burton of Fife Lodge, Bookham as the Cubmistress of 23 Cubs. They
met at the Barn Hall, Bookham."
http://www.1stbookhamscouts.
Charterhouse http://charterhousewarmemorial.org.uk/RollofHonour.aspx?RecID=99&TableName=ta_factfile
Exeter College Oxford War Graves
https://exetercollegewargraves.com/2014/08/
background research: Bill Whitman & Frank
Haslam: if you can add to this page please contact the editor
page added 12 Mar 2009: updated 11 Feb 2018