corisande Posted 18 September , 2009 Share Posted 18 September , 2009 My grandfather served in the 10th RDF and I have notes that he wrote about his experiences. Included in these is an event during the RDF relief of Dublin Castle. It concerns the death of his sergeant, RW Burke "On entering the Castle we found very few troops in occupation, and to best of my knowledge we were the only troops in control at that time. So we decided on placing sniper posts at various vantage points in order to curtail the sniping that we were receiving from houses overlooking the Castle. Sergeant Burke, who was an army schoolmaster, was killed when he and I were climbing a ladder to get up on to the roof to establish a point to deal with snipers. Burke was the finest type of man. He and I were great friends. He was a good soldier and it was sad that he should pass out in the way that he did. " CWGC gives 25692 L/ Sergeant Frederick William Robert BURKE 10th Battalion died 28 April 1916 age 21 buried Grangegorman Military Cemetery. Son of Maj. John Burke, D.S.O., M.C., D.C.M., of 62, Grove Ave., Twickenham. From a casualty list Sgt Burke appears to have enlisted in Gravesend Anyone able to add any more about Sgt Burke in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 18 September , 2009 Share Posted 18 September , 2009 corisande No record found on Ancestry UK. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 18 September , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 September , 2009 corisande No record found on Ancestry UK. Sotonmate Thanks for looking - I should have thought of trying that myself!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynedmonds Posted 17 November , 2009 Share Posted 17 November , 2009 hi Corisande just checking out your earlier posts and can you tell me if you are interested in both Sgt Burkes? I'm sure that I might have some details on the one killed near Dublin Castle? Please advise Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 18 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2009 The Sgt Burke that I am particularly interested in is the one killed at Dublin Castle, but with the 10th RDF and that Dublin Casle was the "real" Dublin Castle. In other words in Dublin during the Easter Rising. Sgt Burke was killed when climbing a ladder at Dublin Castle at the start of the rising, when the 10th RDF fought their way through from Royal Barracks to relieve the Castle. My grandfather was climbing the same ladder when Sgt Burke was hit. Anything you have on him would be very welcome. On entering the Castle we found very few troops in occupation, and to best of my knowledge we were the only troops in control at that time. So we decided on placing sniper posts at various vantage points in order to curtail the sniping that we were receiving from houses overlooking the Castle. Sergeant Burke, who was an army schoolmaster, was killed when he and I were climbing a ladder to get up on to the roof to establish a point to deal with snipers. Burke was the finest type of man. He and I were great friends. He was a good soldier and it was sad that he should pass out in the way that he did. I suspect that you have info on 6874 Sgt Burke, 1st RDF, on the Helles memorial who died 29/06/1915. As you have gathered, I am starting to research Gallipoli with the RDF at the moment, so I would be interested in him as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhifle Posted 18 November , 2009 Share Posted 18 November , 2009 Hi, He is listed in The Times on 25 May 1915. Regards Mark Royal Dublin Fusiliers Killed 25692 Lance Sergeant W R Burke 6745 Sergeant H Hare 19222 Corporal H Humphreys Wounded 23682 Private William Baird 22959 Private James Campbell (Enlisted 24.7.15 into 8th Bn for Home Service , Posted 5th Bn 28.12.15, Discharged 11.9.16 due to Sickness. Not wounded during the Rising was already in Hospital sick awaiting discharge 20th April 1915) 25001 Private Joseph Coroner 25199 Lance Corporal Matthew Kerrigan later transferred to Royal Engineers nos. 355458, WR/204904, 601956, & WR/101007 25694 Lance Corporal L Nolan 24934 Private Robert A Smith (Smyth on MIC) 23721 Lance Corpora Michael Smuller (Smullen on MIC) KIA 6 May 1918 1st Bn France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 18 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2009 Mark Thanks. I have the bare facts of his death. Trying to plug around to see if I can unearth something about the man himself Looking at the list of dead, somewhat ironic that two of those killed were Burke & Hare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 4 October , 2017 Share Posted 4 October , 2017 I'm a carer and Frederick William Robert Burke is my clients uncle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 9 October , 2017 Share Posted 9 October , 2017 On 04/10/2017 at 10:22, Sarah j smith said: I'm a carer and Frederick William Robert Burke is my clients uncle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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