Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
John the son of John and Gila Burke was born at Loftus, Yorkshire in 1892.
His sister Gila and brother Hugh were living at Coxhoe in 1911. John at some point worked at Tursdale Colliery. Gila Burke married David McVay in 1913.
John enlisted at Stockton. He originally served with the Durham Light Infantry as service number 2277. After training he embarked for France April 20th 1915.
During 1917 the 1st/5th battalion fought at Arras where it was likely John was killed in action on 21/04/1917.
Most of those commemorated on the Arras memorial were killed in the Battle of Arras fought between 9 April and 16 May 1917.
Monies amounting to £17.7s.9d to his sister Mrs Gila McVay then later £12.0.0 war gratuity
Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.The Hartlepool Northern Mail 19/05/1917 reports:-
Private John Boyle of the D.L.I. who formerly worked at Tursdale Colliery was killed in action in April.
Gila Burke his mother lived at Byker and then moved to Barnard Castle and died there in 1923.
John Burke is remembered at Tursdale on T62.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 92
