The Collection of Medals to the Wiltshire Regiment formed by the late Michael Hayward

Five: Private G. Burton, Wiltshire Regiment, seriously wounded in action on 22 October 1914

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5462 Corpl., Wilts. Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (5462 Corpl., Wilts. Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (5462 Pte., 2/Wilts. R.); British War and Victory Medals (5462 Pte., Wilts. R.) mounted as worn; together with Silver War Badge (64191) and Bradford-on-Avon Great War Tribute Medal, 37mm., bronze (H. Gilbert Burton) with paper slip, in case of issue some with contact marks, very fine and better (lot) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Wiltshire Regiment formed by the late Michael Hayward.

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Gilbert Burton was born in Church Lane, Bradford-on-Avon on 6 April 1877. A Waiter by occupation and a member of the 1st Wiltshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, he enlisted into the Wiltshire Regiment at Devizes on 24 November 1899, aged 19 years, 8 months. As a Private in the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment Burton served in the Boer War and was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s with two. He then served in India, being transferred to the Army Reserve in November 1911. In civilian life he returned to live and work in Bradford-on-Avon. With the outbreak of war he returned to the Colours, rejoining his old regiment and with them he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 7 October 1914. The regiment was heavily involved in the 1st Battle of Ypres and on 22 October 1914 Burton was seriously wounded which resulted in the amputation of his left leg and severe chest wounds. He was discharged from the Army in February as being no longer fit for military duties. For his services he was awarded the 1914 Star with clasp trio, the Silver War Badge and a tribute medal from his home town. Having overcome his physical difficulties, in November 1918 Burton was appointed a member of the Corps of Commissionaires and was attached to a large printing house in Bedford Street, Strand, London. He was employed as such until November 1921 when he was taken ill. Returning to Burton-on-Avon he died of bronchial pneumonia on 22 April 1922.

With recipient’s identity disk; riband bar; cap bearing the Wiltshire Regiment cap badge; Infantry Training Book 1905; Princess Mary’s Christmas tin with associated card; cigarette and tobacco wrappings from the tin; wartime iodine ampoule in its card sleeve; A.S.C. silver base metal ferule tip; together with a large quantity of copied research contained in a folder; also with three original photographs and some paper clippings.