Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Battery Sergeant Major M. J. Burke, Royal Horse Artillery

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (74077 Sgt. M. J. Burke, Y Bty: R.H.A.) suspension slack; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Driefontein, Paardeberg, Relief of Kimberley (74077 Sgt. M. J. Burke, P Bty., R.H.A.) generally very fine, scarce (2) £400-500

Provenance: Spink, November 2003.

Michael Joseph Burke was born in Clonmel, Tipperary, in 1874. He attested as a Boy for the Royal Artillery at Cork, in July 1889. He was posted to the Royal Horse Artillery, and advanced to Sergeant in March 1897. Burke served on the African Gold Coast, October 1897 - March 1899, and in South Africa, October 1899 - August 1900. He subsequently served in West Africa, November 1901 - February 1903 (entitled to A.G.S. with ‘N. Nigeria 1902’ clasp).

Burke advanced to Battery Sergeant Major in January 1904 (awarded L.S. & G.C.). He ‘died of Heat Stroke at Garhwal, India’ 2 July 1905.