41458 Pte W BURTON 6th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (later 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment, wounded in VC action at Havrincourt, 18 September 1918)

41458 Pte W BURTON 6th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (later 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment, wounded in VC action) 

Wilfred Burton was born in Felbrigg parish, Norfolk, on 15 October 1898 to Hannah. Living in Cromer, he enlisted on 31 May 1916 whilst working as a baker's man, aged 17 years 7 months, immediately going on the Army Reserve. After medical examination at Norwich on 12 February, he was finally called up on 16 February 1917 and allocated the number TR/9/5960. At this time he was medically graded A4. After passing through the 26th Training Reserve Battalion, 52nd Graduated Battalion/252nd Infantry Battalion, he was posted overseas on 10/11 December 1917. Passing through 'L' Infantry Base Depot, he was posted to the 6th battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment under the regimental number 41458, five days later, on 16 December, and joined them in the field on the 20th. He would have participated in the battalion's engagement in the Battle of the Ancre on 5 April 1918. On 21 May 1918 he was posted to the 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment; this would have been as part of the reconstitution of the badly depleted battalion by absorbing thirty officers and 650 men from 6th Bedfordshire Regiment when the latter was disbanded. The battalion was subsequently placed under Lieutenant Colonel Carthew MC of the 1st Essex and commenced training, varied by an inspection by the Brigade Commander, who praised the turnout, and time spent in billets in the month of June. Line-holding duties then took up much of July and August. 

After taking part in fighting at Achiet-le-Grand on 23 August (in which 26 other ranks were killed and 140 wounded), and the Second  Battle of Bapaume (4 September 1918), Pte Burton was wounded in a VC action during a heavy German counter-attack at Havrincourt on 18 September 1918, suffering a bullet wound to his left thumb.

War diary extract: 18-9-18. At 5.15pm after an intense barrage the enemy attacked our positions and after hard fighting gained a footing in our advanced posts. The enemy was later successfully driven back to his own lines leaving 26 unwounded prisoners in our hands. [Comment; 2/Lt Henry John HENSMAN M.C. Killed in action. Also killed today was 2/Lt Frank Edward YOUNG who would posthumously be awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery today] 

A former other rank with the battalion, 2/Lt Young had rejoined the battalion as an officer only six days previously. He was with No.4* Company near Triangle Wood, and his VC citation gives details of the action: ("The London Gazette" No. 31067, dated 13th December 1918) 

"For most conspicuous bravery, determination and exceptional devotion to duty on 18th September, 1918, south-east of Havrincourt, when during an enemy counter-attack and throughout an extremely intense enemy barrage he visited all posts, warned the garrisons and encouraged the men. In the early stages of the attack he rescued two of his men who had been captured, and bombed and silenced an enemy machine gun. Although surrounded by the enemy, 2nd Lt. Young fought his way back to the main barricade and drove out a party of the enemy who were assembling there. By his further exertions the battalion was able to maintain a line of great tactical value, the loss of which would have meant serious delay to future operations. Throughout four hours of intense hand-to-hand fighting 2nd Lt. Young displayed the utmost valour and devotion to duty, and set an example to which the company gallantly responded. He was last seen fighting hand to hand against a considerable number of the enemy."

Pte Burton was admitted via 49 Field Ambulance to no.34 Casualty Clearing Station, and thence on to 37 Ambulance Train the same day. He featured in War Office Daily List No. 5702, Report Date: 23/10/1918.

After a short stay at 16 General Hospital Pte Burton was evacuated to England via Army Transport 'Gloucester Castle', to Fovant Military Hospital in Wiltshire. He was granted a one month furlough from 19 October 1918, later extended by a week, which he spent at home, after which he was posted on 28 November to Ampthill Convalescent Depot No.2.

He passed through No.1 Dispersal  Unit, Thetford in mid-January 1919 and his transfer to the Army 'Z' Reserve took effect approximately  a month later, on 13 February. His medical category on disperal was D.1 and his Specialist Military Qualification was given as 'L R B'. His address on discharge was 37 Prince of Wales Road, Cromer.

*the numbered companies appear to have been adopted based on the practice of the other battalions, all Guards battalions , of the 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division, which the 1/1st Hertfordshires served with between November 1914 and August 1915.