Roy Burston

Sir Samuel Roy Burston
Major General Roy Burston
Nickname(s)	Ginger
Born	(1888-03-21)21 March 1888 Melbourne, Victoria
Died	21 August 1960(1960-08-21) (aged 72) South Yarra, Victoria
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1900–1905 1912–1948
Rank	Major General
Service number	VX2
Commands held	Director General Medical Services (1942–48) 3rd General Hospital (1918–19) 1st Convalescent Depot (1918)
Battles/wars	World War I: Gallipoli campaign Western Front Battle of Messines World War II: Western Desert campaign Greek campaign Syria–Lebanon campaign Dutch East Indies campaign Kokoda Track campaign Salamaua–Lae campaign Markham, Ramu and Finisterre campaigns Burma campaign 1944–45
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Volunteer Decoration Mentioned in Despatches Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal
Relations	James Burston (father) Sir Samuel Burston (son)
Other work	Chief Commissioner of St John Ambulance Australia Chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club

Major General Sir Samuel Roy Burston, KBE, CB, DSO, KStJ, VD, FRCP, FRCPE, FRACP (21 March 1888 – 21 August 1960) was an Australian soldier, physician, and horse racing identity.

The son of James Burston, a prominent Melbourne soldier and businessman, Burston graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1910. After graduation, he worked with children at the Adelaide Children's Hospital and Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.

Having served with the Militia from an early age, he obtained a commission in the Australian Army Medical Corps in 1912 and served as a medical officer in the Gallipoli campaign and on the Western Front during World War I. Burston was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for supervising an advanced dressing station under fire during the Battle of Messines. After the war he became a foundation Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. During World War II he served as Director of Medical Services in the Middle East and Director General of Medical Services in Australia with the rank of major general. The 9th Division was withdrawn from the Siege of Tobruk on his medical advice. He remained Director General of Medical Services until 1948. In 1945, he became Chief Commissioner of St John Ambulance Australia, serving until 1957,

Burston was involved in thoroughbred racing both as a punter and as a racehorse owner. He served as Chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club from 1952 until his death in 1960. Burston made the W S Cox Plate the richest weight for age race in Australia, and he oversaw the construction of the Burston Grandstand, which was named in his honour.