Lives of the First World War

Lance Sergeant Claude Fitzgerald Burton Cape Peninsula Rifles, 1 Regiment, South African Infantry Sgt Burton, a former employee of the National Bank of South Africa in Cape Town,served in German South West Africa and in Egypt before being posted to the Western Front. He was reported missing, aged 21, at Delville Wood on 18 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Sgt Burton is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Cap Badge of South African Infantry which is similar to the one which would have been worn by Burton.

Dedicated to those that made the ultimate sacrifice that have no known grave.

Memorial Plaque.

Dedicated to those that made the ultimate sacrifice that have no known grave.

Dedicated to those that made the ultimate sacrifice that have no known grave.

This is the only tree that was left standing from the Battle of Delville Wood.

Remains of a trench in Delville Wood.

Campbell Street Marker Post.

Buchanan Street/Rotten Row Marker Post.

Memorial Wreath.

LEST WE FORGET.

The inscription reads; Here in a shallow trench stood the battle headquarters of the South African Infantry during the fighting in Delville Wood. Paths and trenches to the rear lead to the west and south west of the wood.

Delville Wood Map.

National Roll of Officers.

Defence of Delville Wood by the South African Infantry.

Captured Germans look on as the RAMC carry a wounded soldier to a dressing station, taken near Bernafay Wood.

'Nancy' the 4th Regiment mascot, the springbok 'Nancy' was presented to the Regiment in August 1915 by Mr D M'Laren Kennedy of Driefontein Orange Free State. She accompanied the 4th to Egypt, and thence to France, where she was with the Brigade in all it battles. She was wounded in 1917. She died at Hermeton, Belgium, on the 28th of November 1918.

The remains of Delville Wood after the battle had moved on. It is still possible to see the remains of the roots and undergrowth which made digging trenches and shelters very difficult.

Lance Sergeant Claude Fitzgerald S. Burton 1916. Unit: 4th Platoon, "A" Company, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry; previously with the Cape Peninsula Rifles. Death: 18 July 1916, missing in action at Delville Wood, Somme, Western Front. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. | CWGC information: Son of the late Capt. George W. Burton, of Madras, Southern India, and of Naomi Elizabeth Burton (now Mrs. O'Connor), of "Calpe", Blackrock, Dublin. Educated at Sea Point School, Cape Town. On staff of National Bank of South Africa, Ltd. | Head portrait press cutting The same soldier appears in the entry below but with a different photograph