Samuel Burston - World War I

World War I

Burston joined the First Australian Imperial Force as a major in the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance on 26 March 1915. He embarked for Egypt on the transport Borda on 23 June 1915. In September, he went to Gallipoli with the 7th Field Ambulance, which supported his father's 7th Infantry Brigade. He served on Gallipoli from September until November, when he was evacuated to Alexandria and later England with Typhoid fever. Burston remained in hospital until September 1916, when he was posted to the 11th Field Ambulance, part of the 3rd Division, then training at Larkhill in England. He moved to France with this unit on 24 November 1916. For his conduct supervising an advanced dressing station the Battle of Messines, Burston was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. His citation, signed by Major General John Monash, read:

From 5 June 1917 to 12 June 1917 at Ploegsteert Wood, this officer was in charge of the Advanced Dressing Station, Charing Cross. During the whole of that period he has set a fine example to the officers and other ranks with him. For the whole time the Advanced Dressing Station was under shell fire, both with gas shells and H.E., this bombardment being of the most intense character at times. On the night of 6/7th June during a particularly heavy gas shell bombardment, he carried through with complete success the organisation of the dressing station and the directing of the duties of those under him, supervising and assisting in the treatment and evacuation of the wounded and gassed. Through all this trying time he was compelled to wear a small box respirator on account of the density of the gas.

Later that month, Burston was appointed senior medical officer at the Australian General Base Depot at Le Havre with the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel. This rank became substantive on 18 September 1917. He was made commander of the 1st Convalescent Depot on 18 April 1918 and of the 3rd General Hospital on 22 November 1918. On 7 April 1919, he became Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS), AIF Depots in the United Kingdom with the temporary rank of colonel. For this work, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He returned to Australia aboard the Orsova on 22 November 1919.