John Robert BURKE

BURKE, John Robert

Service Numbers: V25572, VX60318
Enlisted: 14 February 1941
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 42 Port Landing Craft Company
Born: Warracknabeal, Victoria, 2 March 1921
Home Town: Ararat, Ararat, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bank clerk
Died: Killed in Action, Bougainville, Pacific Islands, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Pacific Islands, 9 June 1945, aged 24 years
Cemetery: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Bomana, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Commercial Banking Company of Sydney WW2 Honour Roll
Show Relationships

World War 2 Service

14 Feb 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, V25572
28 Jul 1941: Involvement Corporal, VX60318, 42 Port Landing Craft Company, Bougainville
28 Jul 1941: Enlisted Royal Park, Victoria
28 Jul 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, VX60318

Help us honour John Robert Burke's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

On leaving school John Robert Burke joined the staff of the Commercial Banking Company, Ltd of Sydney, and was stationed at Donald, where he enlisted in the A.I.F. A keen and competent all round athlete he was particular good on the football field, and as one of Donald’s leading players received several offers to go to Melbourne.

Whilst on active service he was recommended for a commission in the Militia, but decided to stay with his mates and remained in the A.I.F , 42 Landing Craft Company, RAE, of Ararat Vic, as driver in an armoured corps, and later joined the landing assault craft, and was engineer in charge of a boat. Corporal John Robert Burke was killed in action at Bougainville on 9 June 1945.

 

"...VX60318 Corporal John Robert Burke, 42 Landing Craft Company, RAE, of Ararat, Vic. He was a bank clerk prior to enlisting in July 1941. Cpl Burke was killed in action at Bougainville on 9 June 1945. He was 23 years of age. His brother VX29141 Sapper Stanley Cameron Burke, 2/10 Field Company, RAE, died as a prisoner of war in Thailand on 29 January 1944." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

Read more...