1220 William Burke.

1220 Thomas Burke, Died 23rd April 1925, Buried Ford Cemetery, Liverpool.

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Sergeant Thomas Burke, born Liverpool; served in the 2nd Royal Lancashire Militia prior to enlisting for 25 Brigade, 14.2.1877; attested at
Brecon two days later and was posted to the 2nd Battalion 24th Foot, 11.5.1877; served with the regiment in South Africa 1.2.1878-12.1.1880, including as part of “B” Company at the Defence of Rorke’s Drift, 22nd- 23rd January 1879; Lance-Corporal 1880; Corporal 1881; transferred Army Reserve 1883; re-engaged with the 1st Battalion Liverpool Regiment as no.871 Corporal, 19.10.1884; served in India 21.2.1885-2.11.1885; Burma 3.11.1885-3.4.1887 and back for more service in India 4.4.1887-5.4.1892; Sergeant 1891; discharged, 10.5.1897, after 18 years service. Private T. Burke served in South Africa 1.2.1878-12.1.1880 according to his service papers and not from 1.2.1877 as incorrectly given by The Noble 24th, he is entitled to the ‘1879’ clasp as given in the Forsyth Roll and as appears on the medal


Private William Burke was typical of the tough, unyielding men, who built and protected a great empire. At Rorke's Drift,he did his duty,no more and no less. After that,bouts of venereal disease suggesting that he enjoyed the company of the bottle and women in about equal measure. Although he later reached the rank of sergeant with the Liverpool King's, he was demoted at least once for drunken behaviour.

On leavingthe Army in 1897,Burke marriedHonora Lambert. They had three children and moved to Wellesley Road,Toxteth. He was appointed landlord of the Crown Vaults pub in ParkRoad. He died in 1925,aged 64,leaving more than pounds 14,000,agoodly fortune then.

Thomas Buckley was living in a hostel in Liverpool at the time of his death, having either lost of sold his medals. However, shortly before his death, replacements were issued for him to wear at a veterans' reunion in Gateshead. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Anfield Cemetery (section 19/grave923) in 1934.