The AIF Project

Harold BURKE

Regimental number611
Date of birth15 August 1893
Place of birthSt Kilda, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationClerk
Address37 Brighton Road, St Kilda, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8.5"
Weight158 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Burke, 37 Brighton Road, St Kilda, Victoria
Enlistment date15 August 1914
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Battalion, F Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Battalion
Promotions

2nd Lieutenant


Unit: 5th Battalion
Promotion date: 3 September 1915

Lieutenant


Unit: 5th Battalion
Promotion date: 12 March 1916

Captain


Unit: 5th Battalion
Promotion date: 1 August 1916

Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Cross


'Powers of leadership and organization at critical time, enabling valuable services to be rendered by Company. Also personal courage and devotion to duty.'
Recommendation date: 28 September 1917

FateKilled in Action 23 August 1918
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialCerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row A, Grave No. 19), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
43
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: George and Annie Gertrude BURKE, 37 Brighton Road, St. Kilda, Victoria
Medals

Military Cross


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57
Date: 18 April 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alxandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 5 April 1915.

Admitted to No 1 Stationary Hospial, Lemnos, 23 April 1915 (phorangitis); discharged to unit, 30 April 1915.

Promoted Corporal, 9 May 1915.

Promoted Sergeant, 18 August 1915.

Promoted 2nd Lieutenant, 3 September 1916.

Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 24 October 1915 (jaundice), and transferred same day to No 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Mudros, and then to No 2 Stationary Hospital, Mudros (jaundice); rejoined unit, Lemnos, 15 December 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria from Lemnos, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Detached to School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 20 February 1916; rejoined unit, 5 March 1916, having completed the Machine Gun course as 1st Class Instructor.

Promoted Lieutenant, 12 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 25 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 March 1916.

Admitted to 7th Field Ambulance, 6 July 1916 (orchitis), and transferred same day to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station; to 14th General Hospital, Avineroux, 7 July 1916; to 18th General Hospital (Venereal Disease Section), Camiers, 8 July 1916; to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 9 July 1916 (epididymitis); discharged to duty, 23 August 1916; total period of treatment: 42 days.

Promoted Captain, 1 August 1916.

Transferred to England, and posted for duty as Adjutant with 2nd Training Bn, 27 October 1916.

Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 21 April 1917 (pneumonia); discharged to duty, 15 May 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 31 May 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 8 June 1917.

Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 1 July 1917 (pharyngitis), and transferred same day to 56th Casualty Clearing Station, and thence to Ambulance Train No 29; transferred to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 4 July 1917; discharged to Base Depot, Havre, 20 August 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 26 August 1917.

Wounded in action, 16 September 1917 (shrapnel wound, right hand: slight), and admitted to 6th Field Ambulance; rejoined unit same day.

Awarded Military Cross.

On leave to United Kingdom, 7 January 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 21 January 1918.

Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 21 March 1918 (pyrexia, unknown origin), and transferred same day to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station; to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, 17 March 1918; to 5th British Red Cross Hospital, Boulogne, 18 March 1918 (trench fever); rejoined Bn, in the field, 29 March 1918.

Killed in action, 23 August 1918.

Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BURKE Harold

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