The Burton Family Grave at St Mary's, Westwood.

The Burton Brothers before the war - Charles front right, Tom middle back.

Charles Burton was born in 1883, son of Edgar and Jane Burton of New Westwood, Notts. The 1901 Census lists the family as follows, Edgar (aged 45) Jane (42) Charles(17) Harry (16) Amelia (13) Thomas (11) and Ethel (aged 8 months).  The 1915 Electoral Roll lists his father as Edgar ‘Smith’ Burton of New Westwood.  A John Arthur Burton is also listed at New Westwood in 1915 and it would be interesting to establish whether they were related. 

Charles was an early volunteer, enlisting at Derby on 5^th September 1914, at the age of 31.  In all, Charles served with the colours for 4 years and 7 days in the 1^st and 4^th Battalions (Sherwood Foresters). He was discharged into the ‘Army Reserve’ on 12^th September 1918, probably due to having been gassed.  He was eventually discharged from the Army  at Litchfield, Staffs on 14th  December 1918, one month after the Armistice.  Although he had seemingly survived this harsh conflict, tragedy hit the Burton family when, on 29th March 1921, at the age of 37 years, Charles died (after what must have been a long and painful illness), from the effects of gas poisoning.

His discharge papers describe him as being 5ft 6ins tall, of fresh complexion, with brown eyes and brown hair.  Surviving picture postcards, entitled ‘Entente Cordial’ show Charles posing with well-documented French models from a famous French photographic studio of the day.  A further photograph, taken in 1907, shows Charles (front right) aged 24 years with his brother Thomas, aged 19 years (middle back row), posing with friends and workmates.   

Listed on the Jacksdale Memorial as having ‘served’. He is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Westwood,  with his parents Edgar &  Jane Burton . Charles’ Funeral Service card, is inscribed  “Peace, Perfect Peace” -   “Until the day break and the shadows flee away”  The grave also mentions his brother Tom , with an inscription -  “Duty Nobly Done”. 

His younger brother, Thomas Burton, also a Sherwood Forester, was killed in action in September 1916 and is listed on the Jacksdale War Memorial. 

Sherwood Foresters World War One Casualties – 11,298

Source:  R. Capewell  ‘Discovering Military Badges.’

Last updated 6^th August 2002

 
Propaganda photographs taken with French actor...