Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Burke, one of 9 children of whom only 5 survived, was the eldest of 2 surviving sons and had 2 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Henry Burke Snr was born in 1866 at Elswick, Newcastle-upon Tyne, his mother Martha Anne Taylor originated from Alnwick, both in Northumberland, and was born in 1867. Martha, her two younger sisters and widowed father had transferred to County Durham by 1881 and were living at 8-10 Redheugh Buildings, Gateshead, Ralph Taylor was employed as a joiner. Henry’s family had also moved to County Durham and were living at Robinson Street, Blaydon, near Gateshead, the couple were married in 1887 at Gateshead. Their daughter Eliza Jane was born in 1888 at Gateshead but they had transferred to Benwell a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland by the time Mary Ann was born in 1892 and were living at Chapel Court where Henry was employed as a coal miner, also in the household was Mary A. Taylor, Martha’s younger sister. Ten years later they were still living at 8, Chapel Court with the addition of a further 2 children, Henry Jnr born 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June)1897 and Sarah Jane in 1890. They had relocated to Walbottle, Northumberland where John Robert was born in 1905 and occupied three rooms at 27, Stanley Street, Lemington-on-Tyne in 1911. Henry Snr was still the only breadwinner as Henry Jnr (14) attended school as did Sarah Jane (11) and John Robert (5), Eliza Jane (23) and Mary Ann (18) remained at home with their mother, the family had a live-in servant Lydia Llewellyn (18) born in Yorkshire. Martha Ann Burke nee Taylor died during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1911 aged 45 years, her death registered at Castle Ward, Northumberland.
When war was declared with Germany in August 1914 just prior to Henry’s 18th birthday and he had enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 4055 to the 1st/6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers formed in December 1914 when a second line of the 6th Battalion was created. During their training period the new recruits also served as part of the Tyne Defences, Private Burke departed to France, November 10th 1915, attached to the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division.
The 1st/6th Battalion was moved to the Somme sector in preparation for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme which commenced July 1st 1916, however they did not participate in any major battles until September 1916 when they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd and the Battle of Morval, September 25th-28th 1916.
Private 4055 Henry Burke Northumberland Fusiliers is deemed to have been killed in action, September 15th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,318 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating British and South African forces who died on the Somme before March 20th 1918 and who have no known grave. Henry was 19 years of age and single.
His father Henry Burke received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Henry Burke died aged 76 years in 1941 registered in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Henry Burke is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
