b. 10/04/1884 Walthamstow, London. d. ?
DATE OF EM ACTION: 12/11/1927 Barley Colliery, near Apedale, Staffordshire.
Very little is known about the life of Assistant Manager of the oil depot at Digboi, Assam, India, Kenneth Burton, other that it is likely that he was born in Walthamstow, London on 10th April 1884, and was living in Westminster in 1939 as a retired petroleum engineer and company secretary.
EM CITATION:
On the 12th December, 1911, a native foreman, named Rulia, employed by the Assam Oil Company at Digboi, entered an oil tank ten feet deep and containing four feet of oil. He was overcome by oil fumes, whereupon one of his workmen named Gurzei Ahom, who had tried to dissuade him from entering the tank and was aware of the danger, went to his assistance and was himself overcome. Another workman gave the alarm to Mr. Kenneth Burton, Assistant Manager in charge of the tank, who was in his office some 70 yards away. Mr. Burton immediately obtained a rope, and, climbing into the tank, fastened it around Gurzei Ahom and succeeded in pulling him out. Mr. Burton then entered the tank again, and, attaching the rope to Rulia; hauled him to the top of the tank; but Mr. Burton was overcome and collapsed,, and Rulia fell back into the oil. The tank was then emptied, but it was too late to save Rulia’s life.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
