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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 272

(x) Five: Private E. Burke, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

1914-15 Star (1388 Pte. E. Burke, A&S. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (1388 Pte. E. Burke. A.&S.H.); Jubilee 1935; Efficiency Medal, Territorial (2969508 Pte. E. Burke. 5/6 A.&S.H.), pitting on second, overall worn and nearly very fine

Edward Burke was born on 2 January 1892. With the outbreak of the Great War on 5 August 1914, the 1/5th Battalion was attached to the Black Watch Brigade on the Scottish Coastal Defences. The 157th Brigade was formed on 11 May 1915 and sailed with 52 (Lowland) Division for Gallipoli, by way of Egypt on 1 June 1915, to Cape Helles where they arrived on 2 July, entering British positions on the night of 2-3 July. They took position in the trenches on Ghurka Bluff on 5 July with further tours around Nelson Avenue and Pymouth Avenue. During the final stages of the Battle of Gully Ravine, the 157th Brigade took part in the bloody attack on Achi Baba from 12-13 July. Their objective was a three line stretch of enemy trenchline, unfortunately allied intelligence was off and in the event there were only two lines of trenches. This was not discovered until the attack was underway, leaving the highlanders in the open under heavy fire with no objective and forcing a risky withdrawal under heavy fire. As can be imagined casualties for this unit were extremely high and even the Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Darroch was wounded. Throughout the continuing struggle for Gallipoli the battalion was represented on the line regularly and maintained a presence on the peninsula right up until the final evacuation. Evacuated in what was perhaps the most successful operation of the war the British troops made for Egypt, The 1/5th Battalion being no exception, they arrived in February 1916 from Mudros and joined the Suez defences, garrisoning Hill 70 and Canterbury Hill. They formed part of the defensive lines during the First Battle of Gaza however during the Second Battle they were heavily engaged around the Less Hill and later skirmishing at Tank Redoubt. A company of the 1/5th also formed part of a mobile desert column for the Third Battle and later the advance of Mansura. During the Ottoman counter attack at Beit Ur El Tahta they were called from the reserve to help stem the counter attack joining the crossing of the River Aja in December 1917. Leaving Egypt in 11 April 1918 the Division was sent to France, reaching Marseilles 17 April were 157th Brigade was transferred to 34th Division and joined in the fighting for Beugneu Village and the attack upon Hill 158. Burke continued to serve after the war, being awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal in February 1936.

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Sold for
£150

Starting price
£100