John Ridsdale Burton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born in the registration district of Shardlow, Derbyshire; his birth was registered Apr/May/June 1894, although his army record notes that he reached the age of 18 on 16 February 1911, meaning he was born in 1893 (the 1911 census also gives his age as 18). He was the son of John and Annetta Burton, but his mother had died by the time of the 1901 census. Her widower was living at 105 Havelock Road, Normanton, Derbyshire, and five children were still living at home; Flora [Florence] (20), Maggie (14) and Emma (9) who had all been born in Birmingham, and John (7) and William (5) who had both been born in 'Derby'. Also in the household were three boarders, George and Mary Winston and their son, William. The declaration of relatives completed for the army after John's death lists his blood relatives: his father, John Burton (67), of Dale Road Derby, who is described as 'nearly blind', his brother, William (23) of 122 Havelock Road, Derby, who is described as an 'invalid through consumption' and eight sisters; Charlotte Emma Roe (46) and her four children (Albert, Florence, Annie and Arthur) 122 Havelock Road, Mary Ann Ellen (married, 43) 128 Havelock Road, Mary Ann (married) 126 Havelock Road, Rose Browning nee Burton (36) 130 Havelock Road, Florence Holt nee Burton (39) 49 Brunswick Street Derby, Emma Watkins nee Burton (21) 51 Brunswick Street, Martha Robinson nee Burton (42) 89 Sutherland Road Derby and Maggie (married, 30) 38 Willow Row Derby.
He attested (Special Reserve), six years service, at the age of 17 on 10 February 1910. He was discharged from the Army Reserve on 15 January 1911 after 340 days service, as he joined the regular army. At the time of the 1911 census a few months later he was serving with the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters and was in barracks at Crownhill Hutments, Crownhill, RSO, Devon. He was promoted lance corporal on 4 April 1913 and acting corporal on 21 September 1914, reverting to lance corporal on 16 February 1915 shortly before his death. His service record shows that he was wounded in action (gun shot wound to head) and was evacuated to England, arriving in Southampton on 25 October 1914. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial (panel 26 and 27).
Probable identity. No information has yet been found to link John or his family with Nottingham other than his inclusion on the St Nicholas' parish war memorial. It is possible that if he was not personally connected with the parish that his name was nominated by a relative or close friend who lived in the parish. The only reference found to his unusual middle name 'Risdale', which is given on the memorial, appears on the 1911 census, when it is spelt 'Risdal'. This record provided the link to his army service record and the 1901 census.
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