Auction Catalogue

26 January 2022

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 175

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26 January 2022

Hammer Price:
£440

Six: Chief Engineer E. Burke, Royal Fleet Auxiliary

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (2nd. Engr. E. Burke.); General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (Chief Engineer E. Burke.) nearly extremely fine, the S.E. Asia 1945-46 and Borneo clasps rare to the R.F.A. (6) £400-£500

Edmund Burke was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 9 April 1915 and having qualified as a Marine Engineer joined the M.V. Denbighshire in London on 8 July 1939, before sailing to the Far East. He subsequently served during the Second World War in the Peter Maersk and Aiax, before being appointed Third Engineer in the R.F.A. Bishopdale on 20 August 1942.

Whilst serving aboard the
Bishopdale in the Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, the ship was hit by a Japanese aircraft on 14 December 1944 which hit the bridge and crashed on the starboard fore end of the tanker, just missing the USS Minneapolis. The bomb carried by the aircraft exploded; a D.E.M.S. Gunner who was manning the bridge gun was struck and killed instantly; and the ship, having sustained damage to 3 and 2 tanks and pump room, was taking a twenty degree list to starboard due to flooding. Three further crew were injured, and two subsequently died of their wounds, despite prompt medical assistance from the Minneapolis who sent a Doctor aboard within 10 minutes of the crash.

Burke saw extensive further service post-War, and was advanced Chief Engineer on 21 September 1957. He retired on 2 August 1972, and died in Tyneside in July 1986.

Sold with copied medal roll extracts, record of service, a copy of Master’s report of the Japanese aircraft crash on deck of the
Bishopdale, including awards given to the crew, and copied research.