Joseph Henry Burton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph Henry was the son of George Cooper and Laura Louisa Burton later Cooper. George and Laura were married in 1879 (O/N/D Nottingham) and their son Joseph was listed in the 1881 Census as 'Burton' and in the 1891 Census as 'Cooper'. However, Joseph joined the Royal Navy in the name of 'Burton' and all other records are in this name. in 1881 George Cooper (21) a machine fitter, and Laura (20) a lace clipper, were living at 3 Orchard Place, Orchard Street, Nottingham with their two sons, Joseph Burton (4) and George Cooper (4 months). By 1891 they were living at 3 Westminster (-) in Nottingham. George and Laura now had five children: Joseph (14), George (11), Florence (9), Elizabeth (5) and Rose Emma (2, b. 17 February 1889). George Cooper senior died in 1892 (J/F/M Nottingham) aged 32 and the same year his widow married William Emery (1892 O/N/D Nottingham) by whom she had three children of whom only two survived: Laura and Charles. Joseph joined the Royal Navy the following year on 28 July 1893. Eight years after her marriage to William Emery, Laura was living at 20 Morley(?) Street in the parish of St Matthias, Nottingham, and was described as married but the head of household. In the home on the night of the census were her three daughters by her first marriage, Florence (19) a hosiery machinist, Elizabeth (15) an errand girl and Rose (12), together with her two children by her second husband, Laura (5) and Charles (1). In 1911 Laura was living at 1 Arthur Terrace, Nottingham, and working as a lace hand, and only her two youngest children were still at home, Laura (15) a winder of silk, and Charles (12) who was still at school. Laura died in 1917 (June Nottingham) aged 57. Joseph married Ethel Annie Morgan (24) in 1904 (A/M/J Devonport) and they had two daughters, Winifred Ellen b. 1906 and Marjory Inez b. 14 October 1907 (1907 O//D Devonport). In 1911 when Joseph (34) was serving as a Gunner (T) in HMS Pincher at Portland, his wife Ethel (31) was living with their two daughters at her parent's home in Devonport. The CWGC record gives Ethel's address as 39 Garden Street Morice Town, Devonport. Ethel never remarried and died aged 79 on 6 May 1959 (Jun St Austell); she was then living with her eldest daughter, Winifred, and her husband at Summercourt near Newquay, Cornwall. Winifred Ellen had married Robert William Thomas Payne in 1934 (O/N/D Devonport) and in the 1950s they were living at The School House, Sommercourt, near Newquay, Cornwall. Winifred survived her mother by little more than a year and died aged 54 on 7 October 1960 (Dec Truro). Marjory Inez married Harry T Burrows in 1943 (A/M/J Plymouth) and died aged 78 on 19 February 1986 (Feb Bath). She was then living at 13 Bloomfield Grove, Bath. Only one of Joseph's siblings has yet been traced after 1911. His youngest sister, Rose Emma, married Walter Whitchurch in 1908 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1911 was living at 1 Owen Place, Owen Street, Nottingham, with her husband, who was a plate layer (railway), and their two children Walter Henry (2) and Florence (10 months). Walter was mobilized on 5 August 1914 and served in the Sherwood Foresters (8973 Lance Corporal). He first served in France in 10 October 1914 but also later served with the MEF followed by two further periods in France where he was killed in action on 3 October 1918. Rose married George Smedley in 1922 (O/N/D Nottingham) and died aged 96 in 1986 (January Nottingham).
HMS Tower Joseph joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 28 July 1893 when he was 16 years old and on 25 March 1895, his 18th birthday, entered on a 12 year engagement which he extended on 21 March 1907 'to completion'. His first ships were HMS Impregnable (28 July 1893), HMS Lion in which he was rated Boy 1st Class, and then HMS Colossus in which ship he was rated Ordinary Seaman. He was awarded the DSC for gallantry while serving in HMS Lion (Admiral Beatty) at the Battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915. His last ship was HMS Tower and he was drowned when he and Lieutenant Mackeson were swept overboard from the destroyer in heavy seas off the Firth of Forth. Joseph's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial. For further details of the incident in which Joseph lost his life see 'extra information.'
Gnr. Joseph Henry Burton, R.N., D.S.C., [1] was drowned when he and Lieutenant Donald Fairfax Mackeson, R.N., were swept overboard from the destroyer H.M.S. Tower in heavy seas on 1st December 1917. “Acting Lieutenant Donald Fairfax Mackeson, who died on Dec. 1, aged twenty-three, was the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Peyton Mackeson. of 40 A, Hyde Park Gate, S.W. Entering Osborne in 1907, he became Midshipman in 1912, Sub-Lieutenant in March, 1915, and Lieutenant in Jan., 191...7. He lost his life while setting an example in securing to a buoy one of his Majesty’s torpedo-boat destroyers, of which he was 1st Lieutenant. The incident occurred in heavy weather and after dark. Lieutenant Mackeson’s action is described by senior officers as being an example of fearlessness in the face of danger and also of great devotion to duty which will not be forgotten so long as the flotilla exists. Lieutenant Mackeson was a grandson of Admiral John Moresby and the only naval representative in the present generation of the late Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Fairfax Moresby, G.C.B.” [2] He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry while serving on H.M.S. Lion at the Battle of Dogger Bank, 24th January 1915. He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry while serving on HMS Lion at the Battle of Dogger Bank, 24th January 1915. “DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. “A NOTTINGHAM RECIPIENT. “The brief official description of name, rank and ship, “Mr. Joseph H. Burton, Gunner (T.), H.M.S. Lion – in Admiral Beatty's tribute to his officers and men who specially distinguished themselves in the North Sea battle, conceals, from all but his personal friends, the identity of a Nottingham man. “Mr. Burton has risen from the ranks in more sense than one. Born in Victoria-street in 1877, he was educated at the St. Ann's Well-road School, under the present head master (Mr. J. Steedman), and entered the navy as a boy when he was 16 years of age. It is a sufficient testimony to his character, application, and grit that nine years ago he attained to the position of a warrant officer, and now, for noteworthy service in his country's cause he has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. “The citizens of his native city will receive the news of the distinction conferred upon him with unfeigned pleasure.” [3] Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, he was the 40 year-old husband of of E. A. Burton, of 39 Garden Street, Morice Town, Devonport. Fairfax is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial. [1] 'London Gazette,' 3rd March 1915. [2] 'Army and Navy Gazette,' 29th December 1917. [3] 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 3rd March 1915. Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Probate: Burton Ethel Annie of The School House Summercourt Newquay Cornwall widow died 6 May 1959 Probate Exeter 2 November to Robert William Thomas Payne schoolmaster and Winifred Ellen Payne (wife of the said Robert William Thomas Payne). Effects £2430 13s.7d. Probate: Payne Winifred Ellen of The School House Summercourt near Newquay Cornwall (wife of Robert William Thomas Payne) died 7 October 1960 at The Royal Cornwall Infirmary Truro Administration London 8 December to the said Robert William Thomas Payne schoolmaster. Effects £1327 5s. 9d. Probate: Burrows Marjorie Inez of 13 Bloomfield Gro Bath died 19 February 1986 Administration Bristol 27 March £10798.
