condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Fenton Benjamin Burke

-
Lay a poppy
Aged 88 years

Fenton Burke

Image may be subject to copyright restrictions. This image was anonymously uploaded and the copyright holder does not wish to be contacted.

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Fenton Benjamin AWMM
  • Surname
    Burke AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    61590 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    5 July 1918 AWMM Cambridge, Waikato AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Tuakau, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs N. Burke (mother), The Tower, Matamata, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›
  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    61590 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      26 October 1944 AWMM
      'On 3 June 1944 during heavy enemy shelling of the Troop position in LANNA, Italy, a stack of ammunition alongside Sergeant Burke’s gun received a direct hit and was set on fire, together with the camouflage nets over the gun and a thatched hut immediately adjacent to the ammunition dump. With complete disregard for his personal safety Sergeant Burke, while still under she11fire, immediately set about extinguishing the flames. By his prompt and cool action and the leadership thus given to his detachment the fire was put out and the gun saved.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Burke, Fenton Benjamin. (Ref. WO 373/8/308). Military Medal. AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Farm hand/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Wounded 13 August 1942 AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
  • Husband of Fay; Father of Robert, John and Rick

    Sergeant F. B. Burke, MM; Tuakau; born Cambridge, 5 Jul 1918; farmhand; wounded 13 Aug 1942. (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p.598.)

    'Sergeant Burke of 48 Battery had to deal with burning charges and exploding ammunition beside his gun, a burning camouflage net over it, and a thatched roof on fire in a building alongside. He did not hesitate, regardless of the continued shelling, and his strenuous efforts to put out the fires inspired his gun crew to do the same. Between them they put out all fires and saved the gun.' (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p. 598.) AWMM
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    31 May 2006 AWMM
    Tauranga, Bay of Plenty AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Pyes Pa Cemetery, Tauranga, New Zealand AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Death notice: New Zealand Herald, 2 June 2006 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Fenton Benjamin Burke by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Fenton Benjamin Burke

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
    • Murphy, W. (1966). 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery. Wellington, Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
      http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Arti.html
      Sources Used
    • 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 26 October 1944, p.4904.). Military Medal.
      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36764/supplements/4904
      Further Reference
    • 'On 3 June 1944 during heavy enemy shelling of the Troop position in LANNA, Italy, a stack of ammunition alongside Sergeant Burke’s gun received a direct hit and was set on fire, together with the camouflage nets over the gun and a thatched hut immediately adjacent to the ammunition dump. With complete disregard for his personal safety Sergeant Burke, while still under she11fire, immediately set about extinguishing the flames. By his prompt and cool action and the leadership thus given to his detachment the fire was put out and the gun saved.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Burke, Fenton Benjamin. (Ref. WO 373/8/308). Military Medal.
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7351500
      Further Reference
  • References
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 4: WW2 49 AWMM
    • Murphy, W. (1966). 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      Murphy, W. (1966). pp 4. 49, 598 AWMM
    • New Zealand Army AWMM
      New Zealand Army. (1966). no 78 AWMM
    • Murphy, W. (1966). 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p.598. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
23 January 2022BrendonLondon, New ZealandResearcher
25 April 2020John GarlandMount MaunganuiChild

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.