3081 Private Henry Burton - 5th Pioneer Battalion AIF
Henry Burton was born in St Paul's Bristol England on the 9th February 1866 to William and Matilda Burton and was one of five children born into the family.
He was educated in Bristol and after leavings school took up work as a Tailor.
He married Lillian Annie in England around 1899 and they had a daughter called Violet.
Harry arrived in WA in 1911
Prior to the Great War Harry and Lillian were living in Victoria Road Fremantle before moving to 20 Hickory Street South Fremantle (later renumbered to 8 Hickory) and Henry was working as a Clothes Cutter.
On the 23rd February 1916 Henry enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He put his age down by ten years stating he was just 40, when he was 50. Nevertheless he was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 144lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Light Grey;
Distinctive Marks - Tattoos of dots left forearm.
After his successful enlistment, Harry was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially sent to the Depot Training unit and was taken through the basics of infantry work.
On the 27th March 1916 Harry was assigned to the 14th Reinforcements to the 28th battalion, however he was soon transferred to the 23rd Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF. On the 4th September 1916 he was then transferred to the 7th Reinforcements to the 5th Pioneer Battalion AIF.
Harry trained with this group in WA for the next two months. On the 9th November 1916 Harry and his group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire. The ship then set sail for England, arriving at Devonport on the 10th January 1917.
After being disembarked Harry and his group were sent to the Pioneer Training Camp at Fovant.
While he was in camp, Harry let his real age of 50 be known and on the 21st June 1917 at Fovant Camp he was medically boarded and would be sent back to Australia. Even though he was not sick in in good health, it was thought that he would not be able to withstand the rigours of active service life in France.
However for the next few months Harry was utilised at the Pioneer Training Camp and was even given the rank of Temporary Corporal.
In September 1917 Harry was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth
On the 19th October 1917 Harry boarded the troopship Port Lyttleton and returned to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 5th December 1917.
Harry was discharged from the AIF on the 24th December 1917.
Harry then returned home to 20 Hickory Street South Fremantle and continued residing there through the 1920's.
Henry Burton died on the 10th January 1946 and is buried at Fremantle Cemetery.
