" They gave us six hours to bury the dead "

[Skipman]

" They gave us six hours to bury the dead "

Johnny Burke tells reporter Ted Nealon about his experience during the First World War. Johnny fought first in France after the retreat at Mons. From France Johnny went to Mesopotamia where the British army suffered a heavy defeat. Johnny praises the Turks for allowing time for the dead to be buried. During the amnesty for the dead to be buried Johnny met some of the Turks he had been fighting. His memory of the Turkish soldiers is of the poor condition they were in.

Johnny Burke also recalls marching through the desert to Baghdad and to Falluja. When it was time to be sent home, he was told he was going to the UK (United Kingdom) but Johnny had no idea what the UK was and had to ask an officer to explain.



Reporter, Ted Nealon, talks to World War 1 veteran Johnny Burke for 'On the Land'.

'On the Land' was a weekly programme for farmers broadcast from 1962 to 1971.

Jack White, Head of Public Affairs, Telefis Eireann, wrote "Good cover of farming is a basic duty for a television network that serves an agricultural country. Telefis Eireann is anxious to do its bit to make for a better life on the land." (RTV Guide, 9 February 1966. Vol.1, No.11, p.6)

Mike