It was during the Turkish counter-attack on the Lone Pine trenches on 9 August that Burton performed the actions for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The Turks advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade which Burton, Tubb (also a VC winner) and Dunstan (also a VC winner) quickly re-erected after they had repulsed the attackers. The enemy attacked twice more and destroyed the barricade. This was rebuilt when the enemy were driven off. Burton was killed by one of several bombs which exploded as he was attempting to rebuild the parapet. His body was never recovered.