Canada, Commonwealth. A WWII RCAF Memorial Group to Flight Sjt. Burton

WWII RCAF Memorial Group to Flight Sjt. Burton - Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945; and Memorial Cross, GRVI (F.S. E.G. BURTON R79241). Naming is officially engraved on the MC. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, original ribbons, light contact, extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records and Province of New Brunswick Certificate of Registration of Death, along with his Statement of Service in the Canadian Armed Forces.Footnote: Edward George Burton was born on July 7, 1917 in Greenfield Park, Montreal, Quebec, the son of Arthur Burton and Lillian R. Burton (nee Hatch) of St. Lambert, Quebec. He had been a junior clerk, time clerk and insurance agent in his civilian life, active in football and hockey. He signed his Attestation Paper with the 3rd Medium Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery on July 15, 1940 in Montreal, Quebec, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, stating his occupation as that of Insurance Agent. He served with the Canadian Army (Militia, service number 5353) until March 4, 1941, when he was struck off strength upon his enlistment in the Royal Canadian Air Force on March 7, 1941 (R79241) as an Aircraftman 2nd Class. The following week, he was transferred to No. 1 Military Depot in Toronto, Ontario on March 14th for a three and half week stay, before being transferred to RCAF Station Rockcliffe (near Ottawa, Ontario) on April 9th. He was then posted for two months to No. 1 Initial Training School in Toronto on June 21st, before proceeding to No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School in nearby Oshawa, Ontario on August 20th, where he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman. It was at Oshawa that he was assessed for his ability to be a Pilot. Although he was deemed to be a good athlete, his below average marks in his Pilot training forced his instructors to recommend him for training as a Wireless Air Gunner. Burton was transferred to the Composite Training School KTS Trenton, Ontario on September 26th, where he was given the rank of Aircraftman 2nd Class on October 14, 1941. After four months, he was posted to No. 3 "Y" Depot in Debert, Nova Scotia on February 21, 1942, where he was named Acting Corporal. In the Spring, he was posted for two months to No. 2 "Y" Depot in Moncton, New Brunswick on April 7th, before returning to No. 1 Military Depot in Toronto on July 1st. He returned to Nova Scotia the following year and was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 12, 1943, preparing for his final posting at RCAF Torbay, Newfoundland. He arrived at Torbay on July 3rd, where he was named Acting Sergeant on August 1st, and then after one year, named Acting Flight Sergeant on September 1, 1944 and later, Flight Sergeant. He also signed a waiver stating "I do not volunteer for Service in the Pacific Theatre." It was at Torbay that Burton fell in love, marrying Elizabeth Jean Gammie Burton of Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 22, 1944, at St. John's, Newfoundland. His new wife was a Corporal at the same RCAF Station Torbay. He had been hospitalized four times previously during his RCAF training but it was his during his fifth stay in hospital, after being admitted on June 24, 1945 at RCAF Station Torbay and after three and a half weeks care, he secumed to "General Peritonitis due to Acute Purulent Appendicitis" (peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs. Peritonitis may be localized or generalized, and may result from infection (often due to rupture of a hollow organ as may occur in abdominal trauma or appenditcitis) or from a non-infectious process) on July 17, 1945, at the age of 28. The RCAF documents called it "natural causes" or "died of illness" but the cause of death is clearly stated on his Province of New Brunswick Certificate of Registration of Death. He is buried in Montreal (Mount Royal) Cemetery, Montreal, Grave Reference: Section G.943. Grave 472. Burton is credited with having served in Canada and Newfoundland during WWII.