AB Clarence Burton

Birth: August 11, 1917

Death: May 7, 1944

Service: WWII

Service Number: V36182

Biography:

Clarence Burton, younger son of Mrs. Gilbert McKenzie, formerly of Steveston Highway was among those who perished in the sinking of the HMCS Valleyfield. He lived for 10 years with Mrs. Wiley of New Westminster after living in Richmond.

Clarence and his older brothers came to Richmond as young boys and attended schools here, leaving school at an early age. Their mother sold her holdings on Steveston Highway and eventually moved to Oshawa, Ontario where her eldest son Chess and his young bride lived.  Clarence remained in BC. He enlisted in 1941 joining the Royal Canadian Navy and was ready to sail with a mine sweeper when he was stricken with appendicitis May 1942. On recovery he was serving on convoy duty between Newfoundland and England. He was injured in March 1943 and suffered blood poisoning in his arm. William Clarence Burton died May 7, 1944 in the sinking of HMCS Valleyfield along with another Richmond resident David Edgar Brown.