A Great War ‘Mesopotamian operations’ M.C. group of five awarded to Captain J. A. G. Burton, Royal Army Medical Corps, late British Red Cross Society, who served with 41 Field Ambulance at Gallipoli, and was reputedly, as Medical Officer in the rearguard, ‘the last person to leave Suvla Bay’

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star (J. A. G. Burton. B.R.C.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with copy M.I.D. oak leaves (Major J. A. G. Burton.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (Capt. J. A. G. Burton. R.A.M.C.) mounted as worn; together with a Corps Football medal, silver, the obverse engraved ‘G.B.’, the reverse engraved ‘R.A.M.C. 41st. F.A. F.C. 1915.’, in case of issue, good very fine (6) £1,000-£1,400

M.C. London Gazette 3 March 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 27 August 1918 (Mesopotamia)

John Adam Gibson Burton was born in 1888 and was educated at Glasgow High School and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He served as a Medical Officer with the Scottish Unit of the British Red Cross Society during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 October 1914. Commissioned temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 29 January 1915, he served with 41 Field Ambulance, 40th Brigade, 13th Division in Gallipoli, and his obituary claimed that ‘As Medical Officer in the rearguard he was the last person to leave Suvla Bay.’ Whilst this is a matter of conjecture, he was indeed the Medical Officer detailed to the rearguard, and is confirmed in the War diaries as having embarked upon the very last lighter to depart Suvla.

Burton saw further service with the 41st Field Ambulance in Mesopotamia, as part of the force being assembled for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut. Mentioned in Alec Glen’s book In the Front Line: A Doctor in War and Peace, he was described as ‘quite a character who had many very good qualities as a soldier, but did not approve much of Army way, and had his own idea of discipline.’

Promoted Captain, for his services in Mesopotamia Burton was both Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Military Cross. Post-War he saw further service on the North West Frontier, and was promoted Major on 21 April 1920.

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