BURTON, John

Sergt. John Burton

Sergeant, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Service No: 16282
Died: 01/07/1916
Age: 25

Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

John Burton was born 6th February 1890 at 8 Cooke Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast. His parents were John Burton, a warehouseman, and his wife Agnes Amelia Burton nee Curry and was the second of their five children.

In 1901 the family had moved to Haypark Avenue and by 1911, with John's father having gained a positon as Manager, had moved to Marlborough Park in south Belfast. At this time John was working as an Embroidery Designer.

Joining the 14th Battalion (YCV) of the Royal Irish Rifles, John gained the rank of Sergeant.

He took part in the opening battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916, and on the 29th July 1916 the Northern Whig reported that: "Mr John Burton, Cranmore Park, Lisburn Road, has been notified that his son, Sergeant Burton, Y.C.V., was wounded on 1st July."

However, John was subsequently reported as missing, presumed killed on that date.

Portrait photo Imperial War Museum

ARMSTRONG, William Wilberforce

2nd-Lieut. W. W. Armstrong

Second Lieutenant, 
7th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Died: 27/12/1917
Age: 24

Interred in Jerusalem War Cemetery
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Known as Billy, William Armstrong was born on the 2nd December 1893 at Rosetta Park in Belfast. He was the youngest son of William Armstrong, a Linen Merchant, and Eliza Jane Armstrong nee McClure.

The family subsequently moved to Bangor where they resided at Ballysallagh House at Clandeboye. Billy spent his later education at Bangor Grammer School before joining his fathers firm in Amelia Street, Belfast.

When war broke out Billy joined the 6th Battalion, The Black Watch. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from May, 1915 and fought at Festubert on the Somme, Beaumont Hamel, Arras and Ypres. He returned home in January, 1917, and after a period of training at Gaile’s Cadet Corps, was gazetted Second Lieut. with the 7th Battalion, The Black Watch in June.

In December 1917, he joined the Expeditionary Force in Egypt, and was killed in action in Palestine on the 27th December 1917.

In writing to his father Lieut.-Col. Younger wrote: “Your son had only been with us a short time, but proved himself a first-class officer, and his men had every confidence in him, and would follow him anywhere. We shall miss him greatly; though we knew him for so short a time he had shown himself to be one of those who can be trusted anywhere. You may well be proud of the way he did his duty and died at the head of his men.” Captain Sharp wrote: “When he was killed he was gallantly leading his platoon in the attack. His men, like myself, can say nothing but praise for him. . . . By his death I lose an officer who, though he had been but a short time with me, had already shown great ability and leadership.”

In the other case several weeks of uncertainty and anxiety have been ended by the receipt of the worst news. The officer concerned was Lieut. W. W. Armstrong, of the Black Watch, son of Mr. W. Armstrong, Ballysallagh House, Clandeboye, head of the firm of William Armstrong & Co., yarn merchants, Amelia Street, Belfast. Lieutenant Armstrong was in his father's firm before he joined the Territorial Force. He was a gallant young officer, and had seen much service before he was reported wounded on 23rd ult. Nothing was heard of him till Monday, when a wire came stating that he had been killed, and not wounded, on that date.

Larne Times, 26th January 1918.