15 Facts About James Burston

Major General James Burston was a business man, local body politician, and an Australian Army officer who served in the First World War.

James Burston was born at Kilmore in the Australian state of Victoria on 1 May 1856.

James Burston was the son of an English-born grocer, Samuel Burston, and his wife Sophia.

When James Burston was 14, he joined his father in working at the company.

James Burston was elected to the Melbourne City Council in 1900 and served two terms as Lord Mayor from 1908 to 1910.

James Burston worked to improve the city's finances and the attractiveness of parks and gardens in the city.

Pty Limited, with James Burston being a managing director of the new company.

James Burston was chairman of the Bank of Victoria for a time.

James Burston had a keen interest in the military, joining the Victorian Volunteers, a militia force, in 1873.

James Burston initially served several months on the Home Front as the chairman of the Officers' Selection Committee.

James Burston's troops took over responsibility for the sector held by the New Zealand and Australian Division.

James Burston took a role as commander of reinforcement troops at Mudros, a staging post for soldiers being sent to Gallipoli, for a time before travelling to England.

James Burston returned to Australia in 1916 and, having been promoted to brigadier, was placed on the reserve of officers.

James Burston was living in the inner Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn at the time and was buried at St Kilda cemetery.

James Burston was survived by his wife, Marianne, and six children, one of whom, Roy Burston, served in the Australian Army Medical Corps during the First and Second World Wars, reaching the rank of major general.