| Thomas Burton was the youngest son of David and Mary Jane Burton. David Burton and Mary Donnelly were married on 8th January 1868 in the district of Dungannon.
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| Thomas James Burton was born on 30th August 1878. He was the youngest of six children, all born in the Benburb area.
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| Thomas was only nine months old when his father, David, was killed on the farm while ploughing, when the horses came back on to him.
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| Thomas, his three brothers and two sisters, all attended Derryfubble School, east of Eglish.
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| Family: David Burton, Mary Jane Burton, Alice Burton (born 7th January 1869), Robert Charles Burton (born 14th March 1870), David Burton (born 21st October 1871), Mary M Burton (born 24th October 1874), John Burton (born 6th December 1876), Thomas James Burton (born 30th August 1878).
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| After the death of his father, the family farm at Curran was sold and the family moved to Belfast.
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| The 1901 census lists Thomas J as age 20, living with the family at house 264 in Cupar Street, Falls Ward, Belfast. Thomas was working as a labourer. His mother was a widow.
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| The 1911 census shows the family had moved to house 62 in Kashmir Road, the Falls, Belfast. His brothers and sister worked in the weaving industry. Thomas was a flax yarn bundler. He was 29 years old.
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| Thomas Burton enlisted in Belfast.
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| Private Thomas Burton arrived in the Balkans on 17th March 1915.
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| Private Thomas Burton was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Friday 2nd July 1915 at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles.
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| From the Tyrone Courier dated 29th July 1915
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| Mrs Burton, 62 Kashmir Road, Belfast, has been informed that her son, Private Thomas J Burton, was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 2nd Inst. The deceased's father was the late Mr J Burton, Curran, Benburb.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31th July 1915:
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| BURTON - Killed in action at the Dardanelles , 2nd July , Private Thomas James Burton , youngest son of Mary Jane Burton and the late David Burton of Curran, Benburb.
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O God of love; O God of peace.
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Make wars throughout the world to cease;
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The wrath of sinful man restrain;
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Give peace, O God, gives peace again.
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Whom shall we trust but Thee, O Lord,
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Where rest but on Thy faithful word?
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None ever call on Thee in vain,
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Give peace, O God, gives peace again.
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When saints and angels dwell above,
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All hearts are knit in holy love;
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Oh bind us in that heavenly chain,
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Give peace, O God, gives peace again.
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| Deeply regretted by his loving mother, sisters and brothers. Mary Jane Burton, 62 Kashmir Road Belfast.
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| Private Thomas Burton has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli in Turkey.
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| His eldest brother, David, left home as a young man and did not keep in contact but some years after his mother died, he returned to Eglish in 1934 as a United States Army Major (retired). He married and fathered a son, David, who later went to live in Scotland.
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