Corporal Joseph Patrick Burke
Service #: 2037
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Joseph Patrick Burke was born in 1892 in Maclean, son of Michael J & Mary J Burke. Joseph married Eileen Cuddihy in Queensland in 1914. They had a son, Francis John in 1914 and another, Joseph Patrick who was born in November 1916, when Joseph was overseas. Joseph’s father is on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district
ATTESTATION
Joseph was a married grocer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 22nd May 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his wife, Eileen, of Murwillumbah.
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
Joseph did not take the medical until 10th August 1916 when he was training at Bell’s Paddock, Enoggera. The Examining Medical Officer stated that Joseph “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.” On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Joseph Patrick Burke, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.”
His medical showed he was 23 years 8 months old, 5ft 9½ inches tall (1.76m), weighed 115 lbs (53kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & light brown hair. His eyesight was good. Joseph was Roman Catholic and had a scar over his right eye & marks on both shins. He was enlisted as a private into the 41st Infantry Battalion – 3rd Reinforcements with service No 2037
The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches, and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO ENGLAND
On the 7th September 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Clan McGillivray A46. Alongside his comrades, he marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
Sleeping & Living Arrangements
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
Daily Routine
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
Meals
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
Health & Sanitation
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
The Voyage Experience
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.
EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could on wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board
ENGLAND
In November 1916 later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead. They disembarked at Plymouth on 2nd November 1916
When Australian soldiers arrived in England, they are initially sent to depot camps or staging areas, such as Perham Downs, Larkhill, or transit depots near the port. These were not full training camps but temporary holding locations where soldiers could be processed.
During this interim period, soldiers typically:
· Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.
· Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.
· Received equipment and uniforms: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.
· Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions. Joseph was officially taken on strength with the 41st Battalion.
OVERSEAS TO FRANCE NOVEMBER 1916
After crossing the Channel Australian on 24th November Joseph & his battalion were sent to one of the Australian Infantry Base Depots (AIBDs) in northern France
At the Base Depot, soldiers:
· Were accommodated temporarily in tent lines or huts.
· Underwent further medical checks and physical conditioning.
· Received final kit issue or replacements, like steel helmets or trench gear.
· Participated in more training, especially focused on trench warfare, gas drills, musketry, and battlefield discipline.
· Waited for transport orders to go “up the line” to join their assigned battalion.
The base depot system was designed to ensure new arrivals were combat-ready after the journey and the winter conditions in France & to regulate the flow of reinforcements to the front, only sending them when the unit was ready to receive them or when replacements were needed
FRENCH TRAINING CAMPS
At this point, the AIF had begun to funnel fresh reinforcements into the meat grinder of the Western Front, and it is likely that Joseph spent time at a reinforcement base depot in northern France—possibly Étaples or Le Havre. These camps served as training grounds where soldiers underwent trench warfare instruction, route marches, gas mask drills, and weapons training to prepare them for the unforgiving conditions at the front. The 41st Battalion itself had minimal time to train in England, so the reinforcement system in France served as a vital stopgap to get men like Joseph ready for active duty.
WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE
By early 1917, Joseph had joined his unit in the field. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:
· Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.
· Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.
· Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.
The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.
PROMOTION TO LANCE CORPORAL FEBRUARY 1917
His leadership qualities were soon recognised, and on 5 February 1917, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. At that time, the 41st Battalion was stationed in the Armentières sector, experiencing the grim but steady routine of trench warfare—patrols, wiring parties, sentry duty, and surviving the constant threat of artillery and sniper fire.
BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917
As the year wore on, the AIF’s focus shifted to Belgium, where preparations were underway for major operations. The 41st Battalion was committed to the Battle of Messines in June 1917, a carefully planned offensive that opened with the detonation of massive underground mines beneath the German lines. The battle was a rare tactical success, but it came at a high cost. Casualties were heavy, and the physical and mental toll on the soldiers immense.
THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES JULY 1917
PROMOTION TO TEMPORARY CORPORAL
In the aftermath, as the AIF regrouped for the next stage of fighting—what would become the Third Battle of Ypres—Joseph was promoted again. On 14 July 1917, he was made a Temporary Corporal, a step up in responsibility and leadership. Temporary ranks were often awarded in the field to fill immediate needs, especially following losses in battle. Joseph was now leading men, likely in charge of a section or even a platoon during operations or training.
But the strain of the Western Front was relentless.
HOSPITALISATON EXHAUSTION AUGUST 1917
REVERTED TO LANCE CORPORAL
By 2 August 1917, just weeks after his promotion, Joseph was evacuated from the front lines and admitted to the 9th Field Ambulance suffering from exhaustion. This diagnosis was common during the war and could reflect a range of physical and psychological conditions—from trench fever and fatigue to what would later be recognised as shell shock. At that time, the concept of mental trauma in soldiers was still poorly understood. A man who collapsed from stress, lack of sleep, and constant exposure to death and noise might simply be labelled as “exhausted” and sent away to recover.
As per AIF regulations, Joseph reverted to his substantive rank of Lance Corporal upon evacuation. This was not a punishment—it was simply administrative. Temporary ranks were only held while a soldier remained in the field and performing the duties attached to that promotion.
REJOINED HIS UNIT AUGUST 1917
Joseph rejoined his unit on 9 August 1917, only a week after being evacuated from the front with exhaustion. His return was swift—likely too swift—but it reflected both the pressing need for experienced men and the strong sense of duty Joseph clearly carried. The Western Front allowed little time for recovery, and even less for rest. The war moved on relentlessly, and so did the men within it.
RE-PROMOTED TEMPORARY CORPORAL AUGUST 1917
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE
By 13 August, Joseph had been re-promoted to Temporary Corporal. It was a position he had previously held, and his superiors evidently had no hesitation in restoring him to a leadership role. The pace of warfare in Flanders was intensifying as Allied commanders prepared for the next phase of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known to history as the Battle of Passchendaele.
THE ROAD TO PASSCHENDAELE
The 41st Battalion, part of the 11th Brigade in the 3rd Australian Division, had already seen heavy fighting at Messines in June. Now they were moved north into the Ypres Salient, to take part in a series of “bite and hold” offensives aimed at capturing key ridges and eventually pushing the Germans off the high ground around Passchendaele village.
As August turned into September, the battalion endured appalling conditions. The shell-blasted landscape of Flanders had become a swamp. Heavy rain and constant bombardments had destroyed all natural drainage. Trenches collapsed in the mud, and movement was slow, dangerous, and exhausting. Shell holes filled with water. Men drowned. Artillery was difficult to move and unreliable to aim. Disease, lice, dysentery, and sheer fatigue were constant companions.
PROMOTION TO FULL CORPORAL OCTOBER 1917
Amid this, Joseph carried out the duties of a junior NCO—leading his section, managing supplies, ensuring his men were accounted for and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Promoted to full Corporal on 8 October 1917, he had now fully earned his place as a permanent leader in the battalion’s chain of command. It was a hard-earned and well-deserved rank.
But the timing could not have been worse.
THE FINAL DAYS – OCTOBER 1917
The 41st Battalion was ordered to prepare for an attack scheduled for 12 October 1917, part of what would become known as the First Battle of Passchendaele. The objective was the high ridge east of Zonnebeke, where German forces had fortified every rise, bunker, and concrete pillbox.
In the days leading up to the assault, Joseph and his men were tasked with moving into the forward assembly positions. These were exposed, dangerous places to be—made worse by the lack of cover, deep mud, and almost constant German artillery fire. Troops had to carry their weapons, rations, and equipment through fields of mud often waist-deep, where every step was a struggle, and every hour was spent under threat from enemy shells or snipers.
WOUNDED IN ACTION OCTOBER 1917-DIED OF WOUNDS
On 11 October 1917, the day before the main assault, Joseph was in these forward positions when he was struck by enemy fire—receiving gunshot wounds to the head and back. Despite the best efforts of the stretcher-bearers and medical staff, he died of his wounds later that same day.
He was just three days into his confirmed promotion to Corporal.
IN SERVICE TO HIS MATES, TO THE END
Joseph's death on 11 October 1917 came at a moment when the 41st Battalion—and the entire 3rd Australian Division—was on the cusp of one of the most futile and heartbreaking battles of the war. The attack on 12 October was a disaster. The mud slowed the men, the artillery failed to destroy German wire and pillboxes, and casualties were catastrophic. The 41st suffered heavily, and many more NCOs like Joseph were killed, wounded, or lost in the mud.
Joseph never lived to see that day—but he was part of it all the same. His death occurred during the final hours of preparation, in a campaign that would go down in history as a symbol of both sacrifice and futility. His leadership, his service, and his quiet perseverance in one of the worst environments of the war are all part of that legacy.
He was one of the many who fell not in the blaze of the charge, but in the long and grinding days leading up to the battle—the cost of war counted not just in battles, but in every march, every fatigue duty, every quiet death in the mud.
AFTERMATH
The fact that Joseph died a year after the birth of his son makes his story all the more heartbreaking. It adds a quiet but powerful layer to his sacrifice—he did not just lose his life in the mud of Flanders; he lost the chance to hold his child, to return home, to live the ordinary and extraordinary life he might have had after the war.
At just 24 years old, Joseph had already stepped into roles of leadership, carried the weight of command under fire, endured the horrors of trench warfare, and shown the kind of resilience that so many of his generation were forced to summon far too young.
BURIAL LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
That he lies now in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Plot 20, Row J, No 16A—a place that became the final resting ground for so many wounded who could not be saved—speaks volumes. It was close to the casualty clearing stations, and his burial there suggests that even after being wounded, there was still hope, if only briefly.
He was not just another name in a battalion diary or on a casualty list. He was a father, a husband, a son. And yes, like too many others, a wasted life—but also a life that meant something. His name survives, his story can still be told, and his child—though never able to meet him—was part of his legacy. If ever there were a reminder of the quiet toll of war, it is this: a young man lost in the mud of Belgium, while a new life waited to begin back home.
For his service Joseph was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial, the Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 133 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Murwillumbah War Memorial, the Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 133
Buried Location
Lijsenthoek Military Cem,Plot 20, Row J, No 16A
