James Francis Burke 2441
BURKE BROTHERS
2nd Tunnelling Company
[2441 Sapper Thomas Francis Burke & 2438 Sapper James Francis Burke]
Thomas Francis Burke was born at Allendale, Victoria in 1892 the son of Edward John and Margaret (nee Cunningham) Burke.
Thomas signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, on 30 December 1915. On 31 December 1915 at Ballarat, Victoria he signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’.
A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 23 years and 2 months of age. He was 5ft 7¾ins tall and weighed 154 pounds. He had a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was of the Roman Catholic faith. A Miner by trade, he named as his Next-of-Kin his father Mr. E. J. Burke of Springdallah, Victoria.
His training began at the 14th Depot Battalion, Ballarat on 6 January. On 4 February he was transferred to the Mining Corps.
His brother, James Francis Burke was born in 1895, also at Allendale.
James signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Ballarat, Victoria.
A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 20 years and 2 months of age. He was 5ft 7½ins tall and weighed 148 pounds. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was of the Roman Catholic faith. A Farm Labourer by trade, he named as his Next-of-Kin his father Mr. Edward Burke of Springdallah, via Ballarat, Victoria.
His training began at the 14th Depot Battalion, Ballarat on 10 December 1915. On 4 February 1916 he was transferred to the Mining Corps.
On 25 March 1916 at Rosebery Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Thomas and James were both appointed to the 2nd Reinforcements, 1st Company, 1st Mining Corps.
Thomas and James embarked at Sydney on board Star of Victoria. Also on board was 2442 Sapper John Coade who would feature in Thomas’ service in the years to come.
3 Officers and 177 Other Ranks of the 2nd Reinforcements for the Mining Corps embarked at Sydney on board HMAT A16 Star of Victoria on 31 March 1916. Eleven of the volunteers had come from Tasmania; forty from Victoria; forty-three from Western Australia; six were Queenslanders; two from South Australia and seventy-eight were from New South Wales.
The ship arrived at Colombo, Ceylon on April 4, 1916 and after refuelling departed the following day. The vessel docked at the Suez, Egypt on May 3, 1916 where the Reinforcements disembarked after 33 days at sea. The weather during the voyage was cold and rough. The Star of Victoria departed the next day for Port Said and spent the day in port May 5, 1916.
From the Suez the men were transported to Alexandria where they were transhipped to the City of Edinburgh leaving on May 5 for the crossing to France. They arrived at Marseilles on May 17 and were entrained to Etaples, marching in to the Base Depot on June 1, 1916.
Thomas Francis Burke
On the same day Thomas was admitted to No.26 General Hospital at Etaples with a disease he had brought with him, possibly from Ceylon or Egypt. He was transferred to No.9 Stationary Hospital at Havre on 2 June and on 29 June transferred by No.2 Ambulance Train to No.18 General Hospital at Camiers where he was admitted on 30 June. On paper, Thomas was attached for duty to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC) on 25 June.
On 15 July he was discharged from hospital to the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot (1ADBD) at Etaples. On 23 July he was attached to No.39 General hospital for rations and on 29 July he was charged with being in town without a pass and was awarded forfeiture of 5 days pay. He was officially transferred to 2ATC on 24 July.
On 10 August he was deprived of 10 days pay for absenting himself from Tattoo for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
On 23 August 1916 he was admitted to No.18 General Hospital with the same complaint. He marched back in to 1ADBD on 6 September and was transferred to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Etaples on 26 September.
On 12 November Thomas marched out of the AGBD to join his unit (2ATC) in the field. He was taken on strength on 13 November 1916.
2ATC relieved the Canadians at the Bluff in January 1917. On 22 May 1917 he was awarded 10 days Field Punishment No.2 for urinating in a place that was not set aside for that purpose.
On 3 June he was awarded 20 days Field Punishment No.1 for using threatening language to his superior officer.
The Company had moved to Coxyde Bains to conduct experimental work on tunnelling in sand to determine if work could be conducted on the banks of the Yser River near where it entered the sea. Mining was to be conducted in this area so that the offensive at Ypres could be supported by a coastal attack. To this end the XV British Corps took this sector over from the XXXVI French Corps on 20 June, 1917. Prior to this on 6 June Brigadier-General Harvey had conducted a survey of the area and had decided that if mining was possible in the area it would be extremely difficult. The 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company was chosen after their successful experiments at Coxyde Bains. They started on undermining a German strong point as well as two underground communication trenches, a battalion HQ and a number of dugouts. The extreme left of the British front line was at this time about 600 yards in advance of the River Yser, and consisted of a series of posts in the Dunes, and on the beach. The Reserve line, Battalion Head Quarters, and the billets of this unit were on the Western side of the river, and connected to the front line system by three pontoon bridges.
About 8 am on 10 July the enemy opened up a heavy bombardment on these bridges and by 2 pm they were destroyed, the result being that all men on the Eastern side of the river were cut off. At about 7 pm the enemy attacked and killed or took prisoner all on that side of the river, with the exception of a few Officers and men who swam across.
2/Lt HARGRAVES remained on the enemy side dressing wounded men and destroying papers in Company Headquarters, until the last moment, then swam across at 9 pm.
Sapper O’CONNELL was in the Company cook house near the front line, when the enemy advanced. He retreated bombing until he reached the canal bank, when he was shot in the head by a rifle bullet. He fell into the canal but managed to drag himself out and get a further supply of bombs and again made a determined stand.
After a time he was severely burnt with a flammenwerfer and again fell into the canal where he remained for about half an hour. He then got out and crept down to a dugout where his wounds were dressed by 2/Lt HARGRAVES. Being told that it was necessary to either swim for the other side or be taken prisoner, O’CONNELL said “The canal for mine”, and jumped in.
Although severely wounded and burnt he succeeded in reaching the other bank. Just as he was getting out of the water he heard a cry for help from the middle of the canal from a soldier who could not swim, and without hesitation he plunged in again and succeeded in saving his man.
On reaching the bank he collapsed and was taken to the dressing station. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross, but was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Sapper BOURKE and Sapper COADE crossed the river about the same time also. Finding a number of non-swimmers on the enemy side they procured a rope and swam across with it, and remained holding it taut until all present had safely crossed. They were later awarded the Military Medal.
Company's casualties for the day were 1 Sapper killed in action; 4 Officers and 3 Sappers wounded and 41 Sappers captured. 47 of the British Infantry attached to 2 ATC were also captured
On 22 August 1917 Thomas was wounded in action (shell gas poisoning) and was treated at the nearby Dressing Station. He was transferred to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station on 25 August and discharged to duty on 28 August.
On 19 November the Company received March Orders and went via Wormhoudt, Watou to Poperinghe, arriving on 23 November and were then bussed to Metz. Nos.1, 2 and 4 sections went to an old Artillery dugout camp in Havrincourt Wood, consisting of Tunnel dugouts, Elephant Steel and sandbag structures, and a small number of corrugated iron huts. The light railway ran through the camp and a pumping plant close handy and water was obtained without much difficulty.
He was due his Blue Chevrons about this time. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.
Thomas was wounded in action (gas - 2nd occasion) on 12 March 1918 and was treated at 149 Field Ambulance before being transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station later that day. On 14 March he was transferred to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Ronen, and on 21 March he was transferred to England where he was admitted to the American War Hospital.
On 8 April he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, and on 12 April he was discharged to the No.3 Command Depot at Hurdcott.
He marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge-Deverill on 16 May 1918 and proceeded overseas to France on 14 June, marching in to the AGBD at Rouelles on 15 June. He marched out to his unit on 21 June, re-joining 2ATC in the field on 24 June.
On 9 November 1918 he proceeded on leave to Paris, rejoining his unit on 19 November.
He marched out of 2ATC on 30 March 1919 for return to Australia, leaving France on 4 April and marching in to No.2 Group on 5 April.
Thomas left England on 20 May 1919 on board Nestor, disembarking at Melbourne on 2 July. He was discharged from the A.I.F. on 16 August 1919, entitled to wear the Military Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
His Military Medal was received by the Commandant, 3rd Military District in November 1919. The British War Medal and Victory Medal were not collected and were returned to Depot in May 1923.
Thomas married Edna Ellen Ann Dean on 6 July 1923 at Allendale, Victoria. A son, Edward T. Burke was born in 1924.
In December 1931 his military and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne.
Thomas Francis Burke died on 23 October 1961 at Swan Hill, Victoria, aged 69 years. He was buried at Swan Hill on 25 October.
Edna Burke died on 5 October 1989 at South Melbourne, Victoria, aged 85 years.
James Francis Burke
On 6 June 1916 James was admitted to No.26 General Hospital at Etaples with pyrexia (temperature). He was discharged to the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot on 17 June and attached for duty to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC) on 25 June. He was taken on strength of 2ATC on 4 July.
He reported sick on 20 February 1917 and was admitted to the 4th London Field Ambulance before being transferred to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station where he was admitted on 21 February. He was transferred to the 7th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 22 February and then to the 57th General Hospital at Etaples on 24 February.
Discharged from hospital he marched in to the AGBD at Etaples on 3 April, rejoining his unit on 12 April 1917.
On 26 April he was charged with being absent from billets and was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No.2. On 10 May he was charged with drunkenness and warded 15 days Field Punishment No.2.
He reported sick on 5 October and was admitted to the 1/3rd East London Field Ambulance. The next day he was transferred to the 139th Field Ambulance and then to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station. On 9 October he was transferred to the 7th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne and the next day to the 39th General Hospital at Havre. He was discharged to the AGBD on 14 October and rejoined his unit in the field on 22 October.
He was due his Blue Chevrons.
He reported sick on 21 May 1918 and was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance. On 22 May he was transferred to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station and then to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers where he was admitted on 23 May.
He was transferred to the 6th Convalescent Depot on 30 May and then to the 5th Convalescent Depot on 9 June. On 20 June he was admitted to the Australian Convalescent Depot and on 29 June he was discharged to the AGBD at Rouelles.
He rejoined his unit on 7 July, but again reported sick on 31 July and was admitted to the 56th Field Ambulance with influenza. He was transferred to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station the sane day and then to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station. On 7 August he was transferred to Ambulance Train 10 and then to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport.
On 14 August he was transferred to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot at Havre. On 24 August he was charged with drunkenness, being absent for about 1 hour and being in town without a pass. He was awarded forfeiture of 21 days pay.
Discharged from hospital to the AGBD at Rouelles on 26 August he rejoined his unit in the field on 1 September 1918.
James proceeded on leave on 27 September, rejoining his unit on 24 October 1918.
He marched out of 2ATC on 30 March 1919 for return to Australia, leaving France on 4 April and marching in to No.2 Group on 5 April.
James left England on 20 May 1919 on board Nestor, disembarking at Melbourne on 2 July. He was discharged from the A.I.F. on 6 September 1919 entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His medals were not collected and were returned to Depot in May 1923.
