The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Burton
First Name:
Edward George
Nick Name:
Eddie
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7007
Company:
‘A' Company, No. 4 Platoon
Enlisted:
30.07.1940
DOB:
13.08.1922
Place of Birth:
Edmonton, London
Father's Name:
George Edward Burton
Mothers's Name:
Dorothy Ethel Burton
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Labourer
Memorial:
Epitaph, Labuan memorial, Panel 18, Age 22
Singapore:
Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
Force:
'E' Force Borneo
POW#:
1506
Cause of Death:
Malaria
Place of Death:
Sandakan No1 Camp
Date of Death:
21.02.1945

General Description

The Burton family arrived from England to Western Australia April 1926. Eddy was 3 years old, brother Reginald Archibald was 5 years and sister Grace May 12 months.   Reg and Grace also enlisted in the services.
Eddy was a good athlete.  The Burton family resided Midland WA.
Please read of the men of A Coy No. 4 Platoon
Please read further about ‘E’ Force Borneo.
Also see Borneo map and details of WA men
Eddie died at No, 1 Sandakan Camp 12 Feb 1945 aged 22 years.
It appears Edie was too ill to leave with the marches to Ranau.
His cause of death was recorded by the Japanese as malaria.

 

Quorn, SA. 11 October 1941. Group portrait of four members of A Company, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion in front of a train locomotive en route from Woodside camp to Alice Springs. From left to right: Charlie Parke, WX7007 Edward George (Eddie) Burton (died of illness on 21 February 1945 in Sandakan, Borneo, whilst a Prisoner of War (POW)), A. S. Parke, unidentified.

Quorn, SA. 11 October 1941. ‘A’ Company members, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion en route from Woodside Camp to Alice Springs. L-R  Albert (Bert) Parke WX7007,  Edward George (Eddie) Burton (died of illness 21 February 1945 Sandakan) Charles Spencer (Charlie) Parke and Eric Joseph Holst WX8678 (perished Sandakan March 1945).
Eddie Burton
Eddie Burton on right

 

 

 

Burton Eddie - Borneo visit by sister
Burton Eddie – Borneo visit by sister

 

 

‘WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX7007 Private Edward George Burton, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW’s who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW’s were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Private Burton, aged 24, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 21 February 1945. He was the son of George Edward and Dorothy Ethel Burton, of Midland Junction, WA. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 18. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)’

 

 

 

 

 

Kings Park, Avenue of Honour.

Please read the Plaque at Avenue of Honour

Above:  Kings Park.  Eddie and Frank died North Borneo.

Above: Trixie Sullivan, Kings Park Service 14 Feb 2005.

Trixie was engaged to Eddie.  After the war she married and had one son.
In her later years Trixie became a regular face at 2/4th Services, Anzac Marches and events.  She also travelled to Canberra with our travel Group to lay 2/4th Remembrance Plaque at Australian War Memorial.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Lintang Officers Camp, Kuching - Sarawak
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