Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Samuel Burke, one of 13 children, 3 sons, 5 daughters, 5 deceased gender unknown, was the youngest of his 8 surviving siblings. His father James Burke was born in Ireland, in search of work he made his way to the north east of England where he met and married Alice Corcoran in 1869 in the district of Bishop Auckland. Alice born 1852 at Rochdale, Lancashire, was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Corcoran who had also migrated to the north east from Ireland, in 1861 were living at Cornsay, County Durham. Their daughter Mary was born at Sunnybrow, August 21st 1969, Elizabeth, January 6th 1871 at Crook. Later that year they had moved to Howdon where James was employed as a miner. In search of work he moved his family extensively over the next ten years. Son James was born at Cornsay, September 4th 1872, Margaret, 1877 at Esh Winning, Ellen 1879, Thomas, December 20th 1880 and John Samuel January 17th 1886 at Quebec, County Durham. In 1891 they were living at 17, Dyke Row, Quebec, James was employed at the colliery as was James (16), Elizabeth (20) a dressmaker's apprentice, Thomas (9) and John Samuel (7) were scholars. Two years later Alice gave birth to their youngest child Alice Ann, December 10th 1893. By 1901 all the male members of the family were working as miners, James Snr a labourer below ground, Thomas (19) and John Samuel (17) were putters, Ellen (21) and Alice (7) remained at home. James Burke Snr died between 1901 and 1911. His widow Alice remained at Dyke Row, Thomas (29) and John Samuel (27) supported their mother and sister Alice (19) also living with them was John Canavan (11), Alice Burke’s grandson.
When war was declared with Germany John Samuel enlisted at Quebec, October 27th 1915 and was assigned as Private 181 to the newly formed 21st (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The new recruits were taken to Cocken Hall, property of Lord Durham, who had offered the use of his home and grounds to the war effort. Some of the men were housed in the main building the remainder in huts in the grounds, there was a firing range and trenches were dug to simulate life at the front. The 21st Battalion was moved on to Wensleydale, where they were joined by the 20th Durham Light Infantry. October 30th he was posted to the 23rd Battalion and by January 5th 1916 to the 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was a Bantam battalion made up of men below the standard 5 feet 6 inches in height initially required for service which was lowered once the initial rush to enlist subsided.
Private Burke was hospitalised from January 7th to the 10th 1916 suffering from scabies. Once recovered he embarked for France with his regiment at Southampton January 31st 1916 attached to the 106th Brigade, 35th Division. Whilst in the field he received a wound to his left hand which required hospitalisation. He was evacuated back through the lines by the105th Field Ambulance and admitted to the 11th Dressing Station, April 19th 1916 but returned to duty on the 26th. In the run-up to the Battles of the Somme he was again admitted for treatment to the 7th Casualty Clearing Station at Merville, June 14th 1916, with dental problems. From there he was sent back to the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, arriving April 20th. He re-joined his unit November 16th 1916 in the Arras sector where they successfully held a German attack, November 26th. Hugely depleted in numbers through shelling and gas attacks replacements from home were less fit for front-line duty and by December 1916 each Bantam was physically examined and if found to be unfit, sent to other units, this effectively marked the end of the 35th Division. Private Burke was transferred to the 17th Labour Coy, Army Service Corps, January 29th 1917 and was given leave to England between August 26th and April 6th 1917. Upon his return to France he was transferred for a second time to the 187th Labour Corps, May 14th 1917 with a new regimental number 11935.
March 30th 1918 he was attached to a fighting until and transferred as Private 43937 to the 12th (Service) Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment June 8th 1918, part to the 119th Brigade, 40th Division, which as of July 13th became known as the 12th (Garrison) Battalion N.S.R.
The Hundred Days Offensive began August 8th 1918 and lasted until the declaration of the Armistice November 11th 1918 beginning with the Battle of Amiens 8-12th August, a joint allied attack involving 10 divisions and 500 tanks, August 15th the Second Battle of the Somme and the Advance to the Hindenburg Line as of August 31st resulting in the capture of Albert, Bapaume, Noyon and Peronne.
Private 43937 John Samuel Burke, North Staffordshire Regiment was reported, September 14th to have been killed in action September 12th 1918. Initially buried on the battlefield by his comrades, after the Armistice, during the clearing of the battlefields his remains were found, map reference, 36. G. 13. b. 2. 4., exhumed and identified by means of his clothing. Private Burke was brought into Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord, France, October 30th 1919 and laid to rest with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain, grave II. U. 26. At the time of his demise in 1918 Private John Samuel Burke North Staffordshire Regiment was 32 years of age and single.
In 1916 prior to his departure he had nominated his mother Alice Burke as his sole beneficiary in the event of his death, leaving her all his property and valuables. She also received all monies due to him by the Army, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory medal, sent to her at 17, Dyke Row, Quebec, County Durham.
Alice Burke nee Corcoran died in 1939, registered in the district of Durham Central, aged 87 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Samuel Burke is remembered at Esh Laude on E73.01
