Francis James Burton was born at Minyip, Victoria and worked as a farmer before the outbreak of the First World War. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 22 August 1914 at Broadmeadows, Victoria. Burton departed Melbourne aboard HMAT Wiltshire on 19 October 1914. He served with the Australian Light Horse in the Middle East. Francis Burton died on 31 October 1917 and is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.