Arthur was born in 1896 to Humphrey Burton and Ann Marriott in Belgrave, Leicestershire. He had seven siblings.

On the 1911 census, Arthur is recorded as living in Loughborough Road, Leicestershire with his parents and his brothers Charles and George. His occupation is listed as Printing Engineer. He was living in Vann Street, Leicestershire when he enlisted.

Arthur enlisted on 25 September 1914 as a Private. He was sent to France in March 1915 and was appointed a Lance Corporal a few months later in May 1915. He died on 25 July 1915.
Arthur was buried locally and after the Armistice, his grave was found and moved to Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, but sadly at that time he could not be identified and was therefore commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing. Recently a researcher submitted evidence that suggested who might be buried in one of the graves marked to a soldier ‘Known Unto God’.

Through the collective efforts of the MOD Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and CWGC his final resting place was identified and his grave is now marked by a CWGC headstone to be cared for in perpetuity.