Lionel de Vere Burford was born in Moonee Ponds on 25 June 1894,the second of two sons. His parents, Aubrey John Burford and Annie (nee Edwards) had married in 1892.  Annie had been married previously and had a small daughter.  Her husband died soon after and Annie took on life as a boarding house manager. 

Aubrey John Burford was one of her lodgers. He was a bank clerk and at the time of Lionel’s birth Aubrey was secretly planning another life for himself.  He stole debentures valued at £700 from a private safety-deposit box, took leave from work on the grounds of ill-health and made his way to Sydney, later writing to Annie that he was leaving for England via San Francisco. It seems he was never caught and nothing more was heard of him.  

Around 1903 Annie became manager of a boarding house at 142 Clarendon Street, East Melbourne.   She was still there when Lionel enlisted on 31 August 1915, naming her as his next of kin.  He listed his occupation as clerk and stated that he had had three years military experience with the Citizens’ Forces:  Two years with the Infantry and one with the Royal Artillery, 31st Battery.  

 

He was assigned to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Reinforcements and sent to Broadmeadows for training.  He embarked aboard HMAT Afric on 5 January 1916 as a gunner.  He was taken on strength of 2 DAC (Division Artillery Column) on 14 February 1916 at Zeitoun. At Tel el Kebir he was transferred to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade on 8 March and promoted to bombardier.  His unit left for France on 14 March 1916 and according to the AIF website [see link below]

 

 

Lionel was granted leave to England on 7 October 1917 which was extended on medical grounds, rejoining his unit on 14 November.  He was granted a week’s leave to Paris in late March 1918, and three weeks leave in October/November 1918.  In March 1919 he returned to England to await transport to Australia.  He left England for return to Australia on 15 May 1919 and was discharged on 17 October 1919.

 

Lionel also served in WWII and in his application to join the RAAF he fills in how he had spent the intervening years.  After studying accountancy, he became:

General Manager of Company representing over fifty British and other manufacturers.  I have held this position for past ten years and during past 4 years have been instrumental in commencing the manufacture of many goods in Australia that were formerly imported.
During 1938/39 extensively toured China, Indo China, Siam, Malaya, and the East Indies, making Business contacts, etc.
Six months ago formed a Manufacturing Company, of which I am a Director, and largely responsible for its policy and administration.
Should add that I have been with my present Firm for a total of just on fifteen years, the first five years as Accountant.

The firm he worked for was Ponsford, Newman and Benson Ltd. According to the entry on Horace Bohmer Newman in the Australian Dictionary of Biography the company was ‘importing such diverse products as pens, soap, glue, ink, books and jewellery’.

After the war Lionel went on to have his own manufacturing business.

 

Lionel married Edith (Paddy) Grounds on 21 August 1921.  He died at Mt Eliza on 27 June 1981.

 

His older brother, Harold, also served in WW1

The French archaeologist, Gilles Prilaux, has recently contacted us with the information that Lionel was one of nearly 2000 Australian soldiers who scratched their names on the walls of the limestone caves beneath Naours in northern France. This complex of tunnels was originally excavated in the 3rd century as quarries.  During the Thirty Years War in the 17th century the tunnels were used by villagers as a place of shelter.  By the early 20th century they had become a tourist attraction and were visited by many soldiers during periods of recreation. Lionel dated his visit as 1 April 1916.