Patrick Joseph Burke

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 26/10/2017 - 13:31

First Name:

Patrick

Middle Name:

Joseph

Last Name:

Burke

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth Burke

Father's Name:

Patrick Burke

Date Enlisted:

Monday, November 2, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

4th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, April 15, 1917

Place of Death:

Bullecourt, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Patrick Joseph Burke (Service No 1325) was born in Limerick, Ireland in July 1891, arriving in Australia in 1910.

At enlistment in Kiama, N.S.W., he was 23 years old, single, worked as a draper with Majors store in Kiama, N.S.W.

Patrick embarked on HMAT A48 Seang Bee, with the 4th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement on 11th February 1915. He landed in Gallipoli, Turkey with the 4th Battalion on 25th April 1915 and served there until he was evacuated to hospital in Egypt with shell shock. He was returned to Australia in July 1915 for rest, returning to duty on 24th July 1916.

Patrick embarked again on HMAT A14 Euripides with the 4th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement, on 9th September 1916. He arrived in England on 26th October 1916 and joined the 4th Battalion in France on 20th December 1916. On 15th April 1917, Patrick was serving with the 4th Battalion, B Company, Platoon 8, at Bullecourt, France when he was killed in action. He was with a group at an outpost during a heavy counter attack. They were out of ammunition and in serious trouble when Patrick Burke arrived with a box of ammunition. Patrick was killed as he delivered it to the trench. His body was left there and lost. Patrick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BURKE P J