Adrian Lambert Burke

Adrian Lambert Burke was born in 1891 in Numurkah, Victoria, to John Lambert Bourke and Minnie, nee Aikenhead. There would be four children in the Burke family living in Katamatitie, Victoria, where John worked at the Commonwealth Bank. Sadly, Adrian’s sister Jeannie would die when she was only three months old. His two other younger siblings, Bryan and Majorie, would live into their 60s. Bryan would also enlist in August 1915 and join the 1st Light Horse Regiment in the Middle East.

On 27th March 1915, Adrian enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 24-year-old clerk (Accountancy) from Corryong, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 834 and placed in D Company of the 24th Battalion. Adrian gave his next of kin as father, John Bourke. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides at Melbourne, Victoria, on 8th May 1915.

Adrian received his first wound, a gunshot wound to his hand,  in early July of 1916. He would eventually be admitted to the No. 1 Hospital at Harefield back in England. He would return to his battalion in late November of that year.

On the 23rd February, the following year, Adrian would suffer from trench foot. After having them dressed at the 6th Australian Field Ambulance, he was sent through various Casualty Clearing Stations until he was evacuated back to England. He would not return to the 24th Battalion until June of 1917.

Adrian would find himself admitted to hospitals in France on two more occasions. The first was in late September 1917 with synovitis (inflammation) of his right knee, and again in October of the same year, suffering from septic sores.

On 20th August 1918, he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major of D Company. Although there was only a little over two months of the war left, the 24th Battalion would have to survive the battles of Mont St. Quentin and Montbrehain. The battalion went into the Battle of Montbrehain on 5th October with approximately 20 officers and 300 men. Within 24 hours, 60 of those were dead. It was the last action of the AIF in the war.

On 4th January 1919, he returned to Australia aboard HT Morvada, with the rank of CSM (Company Sergeant Major). He was discharged on 28th September 1919, being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.

On 11th March 1920, he was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions in September and October of 1918. His citation read:

“Through the final objective he showed marked gallantry and ability to command. At Mont. St. Quentin, on 1st September 1918, he rendered most valuable assistance to his company commander; and at Montbrehain, on 5th October, after the company officers had been killed and he himself wounded, he reconnoitred forward of the company’s position and personally sited several new posts, and got the men allotted to them.”

Adrian married Beatrice Wakefield in 1923. The couple would live in Caulfield, having one son, Adrian, in 1924. Adrian passed away on the 19th March 1961 at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Victoria and was buried in Brighton General Cemetery, Caulfield South, Victoria.