BURKE, Martin Joseph (Joseph Martin)
| Service Number: | 3477 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Goornong, Victoria, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3477, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3477, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne |
Grandpa Burke
Martin Joseph Burke, number 3477, from the town of Muskerry, in the Parish of Sandhurst. Near Bendigo, Victoria. Grandpa returned from serving in France. I remember him talking about leading pack horses across duckboards. Taking ammunition to the front line. ( I do not remember which front line. He may not have mentioned that as I was a child)
He said that several ponies were shot out beside him during his duty going backward and forth to take the ammunition to the front. I remember he sailed on 29th December 1915, on the Demesthenes. That may be spelt incorrectly.
I believe he worked with the horses from onboard and for some of the time he served. He spoke of "gas attacks and equipment turning black" his lungs were affected during the 1950s when I knew him.
I would really like to know more about where Grandpa served during the time he was overseas, if there are any records please.
Yours faithfully, Carol Flint ( nee Burke)
Submitted 10 May 2017 by carol Flint
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
NOTE: The primary and secondary Given Names have been incorrectly transcribed on the AWM Embarkation Roll (order reveresed). The official Service Record provides confirmation of the correct name via the Attestation Papers being Martin Joseph BURKE. The record on this Memorial has been corrected to accord with the Service Record. RSL Virtual WAr Memorial Chief Moderator, May 2017.