Pte 17272 Michael Joseph Burke

• Age: 26
• From: Fuerty, County Roscommon, Ireland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 18th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Michael Joseph Burke was born in 1890. SDGW gives his birthplace as Liverpool. However, there are no births of this name in the Liverpool area around the time he was born. The only clues to his identity are the names of his siblings listed on his military record and as beneficiaries in Soldiers’ Effects.

Michael Joseph Burke was born on the 03rd August 1890 in Brackloon, County Roscommon, Ireland, the son of John Burke and Maria (née Fannon). His father, from County Galway, and his mother, born in Roscommon, married on the 10th February 1876 in Cloverhill, Roscommon. John was a 30 year old farmer of Mountprospect, Roscommon, father John a farmer, whilst Maria was aged 19 of Cloverhill, father James a farmer.  Michael was one of at least ten children, all born in Roscommon.  He had older siblings Kate Helina, John, Mary Jane, Margaret, Delia (Bedelia?), James, and Patrick John, and younger siblings Francis (Frank) and Bernard. 

His mother died of influenza/meningitis on 26th March 1900, aged 40, in Roscommon. Unfortunately earlier Irish census records no longer exist so his mother is not found on censuses.

By the time of the 1901 census Michael is one of seven children living at home with his widowed father in House 2, Brackloon, Fuerty, Roscommon. His father, aged 52, is a farmer,  and Kate, 23, Margaret, 19, and Delia Bee, 15, are listed as farmer’s daughters.  James, 12, Patrick, 10, and Michael, 8, are at school, and Francis is 5. The youngest child, Bernard, is not in the household.

His father died of interstitial nephritis(kidney disease) on the 02nd September 1903, a widow aged 55, in the Roscommon Workhouse. 

On the 1911 Census Michael is boarding at 22-28 Bankfield Street, Kirkdale, the Caledonia Hotel. He is a 22 year old barman, born in Roscommon. The property was owned by widowed Sarah Wynn, a licenced victualler. 

His sister Delia, aged 26, and born Roscommon, is found on the 1911 Census working as a barmaid at the Bird in the Hand Hotel, Flixton, near Manchester.  

An online site (Bootle’s Fallen) states that before the war Michael resided with his brother Patrick at 8 Hornby Road, Bootle and was employed by the Cunard Steamship Company.  However, Michael’s name does not appear on the Cunard Memorial.

M. Burke is found as a waiter on the Haverford (American Line) in 1909, address 120 Brasenose Road.  (A John Burke, aged 30, a dock labourer born in Roscommon is listed on the 1911 census at 120 Brasenose Road, Kirkdale).

By 1912 M. J. Burke, age 21, of 4 Celia Street, is a waiter on the Franconia (Cunard); the handwriting on the two signatures are identical to his Service Record. [4 Celia Street is house successive to 120 Brasenose Road] 

He enlisted on the 14^th September, 1914 in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17272. He gave his age as 24 years and his occupation as ships clerk. He was 5 foot seven and ¾ inches tall, weighed 128lbs, had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, had brown hair and gave his religion as Roman Catholic. He gave, as next of kin, his brother Patrick H. at 8 Hornby Road, Bootle, later changed to his sister Delia, 14 Crosby Road, Birkdale.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service record shows the following:

08.06.15: Confined to barracks for seven days whilst at Grantham for not complying with Kings Regs Para 1696. KR Para 1696 - “The hair of the head will be kept short. The chin and under lip will be shaved, but not the upper lip. Whiskers, if worn, will be of moderate length.”  (Interestingly, for officers in the British army from 1860 until 1916 it was compulsory to grow a moustache, per King’s Regulations.)

Michael arrived in France on 07th November 1915, disembarking with his battalion at Boulogne.

26.04.16: 89^th Brigade Trench Mortar for course.

30.04.16: Rejoined Battalion.

06.06.16: 89/2 Trench Mortar Battery.

12.08.16: Permanently attached to 89^th Trench Mortar Battery. 

Michael Joseph was killed in action on the 18th October 1916, aged 26, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

19th Bn Diary  

18^th October 1916

Zero hour for attack 3.40am. The 21^st Brigade attacked on our left, the Battalion immediately on our left being the 2^nd Battn. Yorkshire Regiment, to whom 2^nd Lieut Rendell was sent as Liaison Officer. The 12^th Division attacked on the right, the Battalion immediately on our right being the 5^th Battalion Royal Berks Regiment, from whom Lieut Debono was sent to us as Liaison Officer .  Advances were made on the far right and far left of the attack, but the Brigades immediately on our left and right were held up. The Battalion was not called upon to advance, merely to hold its position. Two tanks went into action, one got into the German trenches, remaining there for about 25 minutes, killing many Germans and causing many others to run away. Casualties 4 O.R. killed and 4 O.R. wounded. Late in the evening orders were received for the Battalion to take over a portion of the line held by the 21^st Infantry Brigade, and No.1 Company, under Captain Dodd, was brought up to effect this, his Company being relieved at Factory Corner by 2 Companies of the 20^th Battn K.L.R.        

A report from the Bootle Times:

Corporal M.J. Burke, K.L.R., who before the war resided with his brother at 8, Hornby-Road, Bootle, was killed in action on October 18th. He had been for a number of years employed by the Cunard Steamship Co., but volunteered at the outbreak of war. His officer, writing to the relatives said, "His fine character, quiet manner, and devotion to duty gained for him a popularity and respect of which he must have been proud. I often think what a happier world this would be if there were more in it like your brother. I know that you must feel proud of him, and although your burden of grief is so heavy you will find consolation in the thought that he so nobly died for his King and country.

His named appeared as Killed in Action in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 02 November 1916: 

KILLED IN ACTION.  BURKE— October 18, killed in action, Corpl. M. J. Burke, the beloved brother of Delia Burke, 33, Crescent-road, Birkdale. R.I.P. (His duty nobly done.)  

BURKE— October 18, killed action, Corpl. M. J. Burke, the dearly-beloved brother of P. Burke, 8, Hornby-road, Bootle. R.I.P.  

BURKE— October 18 killed in action, dear Mick.— Sadly missed by Maria and Ivy.— 8, Hornby-road. Bootle. 

He was also reported as killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 03 November 1916: 

Corporal M. J. Burke, K.L.R., formally 8, Hornby Road ,Bootle, where he resided with his brother, has been killed in action. He volunteered at the outbreak of the war joining a Liverpool Regiment. Previously he was employed for a number of years by the Cunard Steamship Company. 

Michael Joseph's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He earned his three medals, which were returned for amendment (issued with reg. no. 17274 in error). 

He was remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 18 October 1917: 

BURKE— In affectionate remembrance of our dearly-loved brother, Corporal M. J. Burke, K.L.R., who fell in action, October 18, 1916. - Ever loved by Pat, Ivy, and Frank in France.  

BURKE— In sad but ever-loving remembrance of my darling brother, Michael, who was killed in action October 18, 1916. 

We have lost, Heaven has gained, 

One of the best the world contained. 

From Delia. 

His personal property was to be sent to Miss Delia Burke, by then at 33 Crescent Road, Birkdale, Southport.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £9 were shared by his siblings John, Patrick, Bernard, Frank, James, Margaret, Delia, Mary Jane, and Kate, and (illegible).  No pension card has been found, suggesting that Michael lived independently and had no dependents. 

A number of his siblings emigrated to the United States both before and after the war. His next of kin, Patrick John, had married Francis Smitten in 1912 they emigrated with their children to New York in 1926. He has a ww2 enlistment card. 

Michael is also commemorated on the Bootle Civic Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Michael Joseph Burke, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.