Herbert was educated at Bath Wick School. He enlisted into the South Western Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance Reserves on 6th October 1914, under the service number 1872. He was 19 years old and was living at 7 Bedford Street, Bath at the time. He was embodied into the 2/2nd South Western Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance. On 7th March 1917, he transferred to Regular Army - service number 92079, and attended the Training Centre at Blackpool. He embarked at Southampton on 15th April 1917 with the 58th General Hospital, then disembarking at Havre the next day he entered the war in France on 16th April 1917. On 13th March 1918, he was posted to serve with the 43rd Field Ambulance in the field. Herbert was reported missing and then confirmed to be a prisoner of war on 21st March 1918. He died of Dysentery in a field hospital, Cugney, whilst still a prisoner of war. He was the son of Jacob Burton of 33 Park Street, Bath.