| Regimental number | 611 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | St Kilda, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | 37 Brighton Road, St Kilda, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Height | 5' 8.5" |
| Weight | 158 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Burke, 37 Brighton Road, St Kilda, Victoria |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 5th Battalion, F Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/22/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A3 Orvieto on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | Commissioned |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Captain |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Battalion |
| Promotions |
2nd Lieutenant Unit: 5th Battalion Promotion date: Lieutenant Unit: 5th Battalion Promotion date: Captain Unit: 5th Battalion Promotion date: |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Cross 'Powers of leadership and organization at critical time, enabling valuable services to be rendered by Company. Also personal courage and devotion to duty.' Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
| Place of burial | Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row A, Grave No. 19), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 43 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: George and Annie Gertrude BURKE, 37 Brighton Road, St. Kilda, Victoria |
| Medals |
Military Cross Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Alxandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 5 April 1915. Admitted to No 1 Stationary Hospial, Lemnos, 23 April 1915 (phorangitis); discharged to unit, 30 April 1915. Promoted Corporal, 9 May 1915. Promoted Sergeant, 18 August 1915. Promoted 2nd Lieutenant, 3 September 1916. Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 24 October 1915 (jaundice), and transferred same day to No 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Mudros, and then to No 2 Stationary Hospital, Mudros (jaundice); rejoined unit, Lemnos, 15 December 1915. Disembarked Alexandria from Lemnos, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation). Detached to School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 20 February 1916; rejoined unit, 5 March 1916, having completed the Machine Gun course as 1st Class Instructor. Promoted Lieutenant, 12 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 25 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 March 1916. Admitted to 7th Field Ambulance, 6 July 1916 (orchitis), and transferred same day to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station; to 14th General Hospital, Avineroux, 7 July 1916; to 18th General Hospital (Venereal Disease Section), Camiers, 8 July 1916; to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 9 July 1916 (epididymitis); discharged to duty, 23 August 1916; total period of treatment: 42 days. Promoted Captain, 1 August 1916. Transferred to England, and posted for duty as Adjutant with 2nd Training Bn, 27 October 1916. Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 21 April 1917 (pneumonia); discharged to duty, 15 May 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 31 May 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 8 June 1917. Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 1 July 1917 (pharyngitis), and transferred same day to 56th Casualty Clearing Station, and thence to Ambulance Train No 29; transferred to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 4 July 1917; discharged to Base Depot, Havre, 20 August 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 26 August 1917. Wounded in action, 16 September 1917 (shrapnel wound, right hand: slight), and admitted to 6th Field Ambulance; rejoined unit same day. Awarded Military Cross. On leave to United Kingdom, 7 January 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 21 January 1918. Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 21 March 1918 (pyrexia, unknown origin), and transferred same day to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station; to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, 17 March 1918; to 5th British Red Cross Hospital, Boulogne, 18 March 1918 (trench fever); rejoined Bn, in the field, 29 March 1918. Killed in action, 23 August 1918. Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BURKE Harold |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
