Theresa McTiernan has submitted the following:
John Burke, born in Dipton 1889, was the son of Jeremiah and Mary Ann Burke. In 1901 the family lived in The Square, Front Street, Dipton. In 1911, aged 21 years, John was lodging in Wansbeck Street, Chopwell and was working as a coal miner hewer. He married Martha Jane Chatt of Chopwell in 1914 and their daughter Mary was born in 1916.
The 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers was raised at Newcastle in September 1914 by the Newcastle & Gateshead Chamber of Commerce, one of the Pals Battalions. They served with the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division, and began training near home then moved in May 1915 to concentrate in Shropshire at Prees Heath. The camp was found to be too wet for training and the Division moved to Wensley and Richmond in Yorkshire, using the firing ranges at Strenshall. In August 1915 they moved for final training and firing practice at Codford on Salisbury Plain. They proceeded to France on the 22nd of November 1915. In 1916 they were in action during the Battles of the Somme. In 1917 they were involved in Operations on the Ancre and the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line.
John Burke was killed in action on 23 June 1917, aged 28, and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Remembered with Honour Coxyde Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Grave Ref: 1.B.44
John Burke is remembered at Burnopfield on B155.01 at Dipton on D46.06 and Leadgate on L65.01
