Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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3485   Private Thomas Burton
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 13/01/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 30/08/1878
Died: 02/07/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age: 36
Summary      
Thomas Burton was the youngest son of David and Mary Jane Burton. He was born on 30th August 1878 in the Benburb area. He was only nine months old when his father died. The family later moved to Belfast. Thomas was a flax yarn bundler. 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.
Further Information
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.
Thomas James Burton was born on 30th August 1878. He was the youngest of six children, all born in the Benburb area.
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.
Thomas, his three brothers and two sisters, all attended Derryfubble School, east of Eglish.
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).
After the death of his father, the family farm at Curran was sold and the family moved to Belfast.
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.
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.
Thomas Burton enlisted in Belfast.
Private Thomas Burton arrived in the Balkans on 17th March 1915.
Medal card
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.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 29th July 1915
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.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31th July 1915:
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.
O God of love; O God of peace.
Make wars throughout the world to cease;
The wrath of sinful man restrain;
Give peace, O God, gives peace again.
Whom shall we trust but Thee, O Lord,
Where rest but on Thy faithful word?
None ever call on Thee in vain,
Give peace, O God, gives peace again.
When saints and angels dwell above,
All hearts are knit in holy love;
Oh bind us in that heavenly chain,
Give peace, O God, gives peace again.
Deeply regretted by his loving mother, sisters and brothers. Mary Jane Burton, 62 Kashmir Road Belfast.
Private Thomas Burton has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli in Turkey.
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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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Curran, Eglish Benburb Born in Curran, Eglish 54.432262 -6.757894
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
08/01/1868 M Donnelly Mary Parent M/1868/T1/1419/2/38b
08/01/1868 M Burton David Parent M/1868/T1/1419/2/38a
07/01/1869 B Burton Alice Sibling U/1869/106/1012/2/417
14/03/1870 B Burton Robert Sibling U/1870/106/1012/3/105
21/10/1871 B Burton David Sibling U/1871/106/1012/3/380
24/10/1874 B Burton Mary Sibling U/1874/106/1012/4/285
06/12/1876 B Burton John Sibling U/1876/106/1012/5/65
10/08/1878 B Burton Thomas Casualty U/1878/106/1012/6/41
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Burton family Lists Thos J as age 20 living with the family at house 264 in Cupar Street, Falls Ward, Antrim
2 1911 Census lists Burton family Lists Thomas James as age 29 living with the family at house 62 in Kashmir Road, Falls, Antrim
3 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
4 WW1 - Eglish Roll of Honour Information about Thomas Burton
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023