Australian Wwi Solider Profile

World War I Soldier Profile: Alexander Stewart Burton

Name: Alexander Stewart Burton

Occupation: Ironmonger

Birthplace (Town/State/Country): Kyneton, Victoria

Marital status: Single

Enlistment date: 18 August 1914

Enlistment age: 21

Military unit served in: Alexander’s service number was 384 and he served in the 7th Battalion, C Company.

Rank: Private (on enlistment), Corporal (after promotion)

Outline service history (dates of where he served, promotions, reductions, casualties/injuries).

 18/08/14 – Enlisted in the AIF

-/08/14 – Embarked for Egypt and later came back home, unwounded.

19/10/14 – Embarked with the 7th Battalion from Melbourne, Victoria on board Transport A20 Hororata

4/04/15 – His battalion embarked for Lemnos

25/04/15 – Landed in Gallipoli, taking part of the Anzac landing

18/05/15 – Reported wounded. Rejoined the Battalion

10/06/15 – Promoted to Lance Corporal

15/10/15 – Awarded the Victoria Cross

8/08/15 to 9/08/15 – Killed in action

Label places served using arrows 

Egypt

Gallipoli and Lemnos

Using other research, describe what your soldier would have experienced (nature of fighting and living conditions). 400 words

Alexander, just like many other men at his age and even younger, were most likely so excited at the fact they were going to war not really understanding what they will actually will be going through. He wanted all the perks of enlisting in the war, and importantly to fight for his country. He didn’t want to be labelled as a weak man.

Only a few months after Alexander had enlisted he had embarked from Melbourne in a ship to a small town in Greece. From that town he would only be a few kilometres from the anticipated Anzac landing. From the minute he had landed Alexander had most probably been hit with the reality of the whole war and what he would most probably have to come to terms with. He had probably realised very quickly how difficult and horrendous the living...