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Cornelius Burke War Hero
Cornelius Burke - war hero
Corny Burke was one of the so-called "Three Musketeers" from Vancouver (including Ladner & Maitland) who enlisted at HMCS Discovery in September 1939. In March 1940, he was sent to King Alfred. When he sailed on the Duchess of Atholl, he smuggled his wife, Wendy (sister of Brigadier Budge Bell-Irving), on board. In May 1940, he went to Le Havre with demolition specialists to blow up docks and harbour installations just before the evacuation from Dunkirk. He spent three months at AMC Chitrel. Lt. (Temp), RCNVR, on 12 March 1943. He was then appointed to Fowey in MGB-42 as First Lieutenant and Navigator. MGB-42 was blown up on Corney's first operation. Commanded MGB-90 (an ELCO boat) operating out of Felixstowe and Dover. This boat burned to the waterline when a rating cleaning the Lewis gun fired a shell that hit a box of 20mm shells which exploded causing a major fire. He then commanded another boat in the 20th MGB Flotilla out of Lowestoft. He went home to Vancouver for Christmas 1942. In February 1943, he headed for Gibraltar in the Dog Boats in Command of MGB-658 and joined the 20th MGB Flotilla. He participated in the Sicily landing patrolling as back-up to the Canadians and the Lovat Scouts just south of Syracuse. In October 1943, he sank two Flak Ships unaided. On 4 January 1944, MGB-658 joined the new 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla under command of LCdr J.D. Maitland. He finished the war in the Mediterranean as the Senior Officer of the 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla. LCdr(Temp), RCNVR, on 1 July 1945; Cdr on 1 July 1945. He retired on 21 January 1946 and ran a travel agency in Vancouver post-war. He died in Vancouver on 25 April 1999.
Extensive details on Cornelius Burke's military exploits can be found in "Victory at Sea - Tales of His Majesty's Coastal Forces" by Hal Lawrence and "Champagne Navy - Small Boat Raiders of the Second World War" by Brian Noland and Brian Jeffrey Street.
Military citations include:
BURKE, Cornelius ("Corny"), Lieutenant - Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
- RCNVR / MGB-658
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 24 June 1944 and London Gazette of 30 May 1944.
BURKE. Cornelius, 0-10520, Lt (Temp) [12.3.41] RNCVR
DSC~[24.6.44] MID~[9.9.44]
Bar DSC~[3.2.45] LCdr(Temp) [1.7.45]
2nd Bar DSC~[15.9.45]
LCdr [1.7.45] RCN(R); Demobilized [21.1.46]
"For outstanding courage, leadership and skill in Light Coastal Craft in many daring attacks on enemy shipping in enemy waters."
BURKE, Cornelius, Lieutenant, DSC - Mention in Despatches
- RCNVR / MGB-658
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 9 September 1944 and London Gazette of 11 July 1944.
"For good service in action with German Light Forces in the Adriatic. For outstanding leadership, courage and skill in Light Coastal Craft in a successful engagement with the enemy in the Adriatic."
BURKE, Cornelius, Acting Lieutenant-Commander, DSC - First BAR to the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC*)
- RCNVR / MGB-658
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 3 February 1945 and London Gazette of 16 January 1945.
"For good services in action in H.M. Light Craft in the Mediterranean."
BURKE, Cornelius, Lieutenant-Commander - Second BAR to the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC**)
- RCNVR / MGB-658 HMLC
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 15 September 1945 and London Gazette of 24 April 1945.
"For courage, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty whilst serving in His Majesty's Ships Fabius, Brocklesby, Wilton, Quantock, Lamerton, and Light Coastal Forces in an attack on the Island of Lussino."
Corny Burke was one of the so-called "Three Musketeers" from Vancouver (including Ladner & Maitland) who enlisted at HMCS Discovery in September 1939. In March 1940, he was sent to King Alfred. When he sailed on the Duchess of Atholl, he smuggled his wife, Wendy (sister of Brigadier Budge Bell-Irving), on board. In May 1940, he went to Le Havre with demolition specialists to blow up docks and harbour installations just before the evacuation from Dunkirk. He spent three months at AMC Chitrel. Lt. (Temp), RCNVR, on 12 March 1943. He was then appointed to Fowey in MGB-42 as First Lieutenant and Navigator. MGB-42 was blown up on Corney's first operation. Commanded MGB-90 (an ELCO boat) operating out of Felixstowe and Dover. This boat burned to the waterline when a rating cleaning the Lewis gun fired a shell that hit a box of 20mm shells which exploded causing a major fire. He then commanded another boat in the 20th MGB Flotilla out of Lowestoft. He went home to Vancouver for Christmas 1942. In February 1943, he headed for Gibraltar in the Dog Boats in Command of MGB-658 and joined the 20th MGB Flotilla. He participated in the Sicily landing patrolling as back-up to the Canadians and the Lovat Scouts just south of Syracuse. In October 1943, he sank two Flak Ships unaided. On 4 January 1944, MGB-658 joined the new 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla under command of LCdr J.D. Maitland. He finished the war in the Mediterranean as the Senior Officer of the 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla. LCdr(Temp), RCNVR, on 1 July 1945; Cdr on 1 July 1945. He retired on 21 January 1946 and ran a travel agency in Vancouver post-war. He died in Vancouver on 25 April 1999.
Extensive details on Cornelius Burke's military exploits can be found in "Victory at Sea - Tales of His Majesty's Coastal Forces" by Hal Lawrence and "Champagne Navy - Small Boat Raiders of the Second World War" by Brian Noland and Brian Jeffrey Street.
Military citations include:
BURKE, Cornelius ("Corny"), Lieutenant - Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
- RCNVR / MGB-658
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 24 June 1944 and London Gazette of 30 May 1944.
BURKE. Cornelius, 0-10520, Lt (Temp) [12.3.41] RNCVR
DSC~[24.6.44] MID~[9.9.44]
Bar DSC~[3.2.45] LCdr(Temp) [1.7.45]
2nd Bar DSC~[15.9.45]
LCdr [1.7.45] RCN(R); Demobilized [21.1.46]
"For outstanding courage, leadership and skill in Light Coastal Craft in many daring attacks on enemy shipping in enemy waters."
BURKE, Cornelius, Lieutenant, DSC - Mention in Despatches
- RCNVR / MGB-658
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 9 September 1944 and London Gazette of 11 July 1944.
"For good service in action with German Light Forces in the Adriatic. For outstanding leadership, courage and skill in Light Coastal Craft in a successful engagement with the enemy in the Adriatic."
BURKE, Cornelius, Acting Lieutenant-Commander, DSC - First BAR to the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC*)
- RCNVR / MGB-658
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 3 February 1945 and London Gazette of 16 January 1945.
"For good services in action in H.M. Light Craft in the Mediterranean."
BURKE, Cornelius, Lieutenant-Commander - Second BAR to the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC**)
- RCNVR / MGB-658 HMLC
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 15 September 1945 and London Gazette of 24 April 1945.
"For courage, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty whilst serving in His Majesty's Ships Fabius, Brocklesby, Wilton, Quantock, Lamerton, and Light Coastal Forces in an attack on the Island of Lussino."
Submitted on September 28, 2016 in By David.
