1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and War Medal 1939-1945. Un-named as issued. Court-mounted, contact marks, clear glue residue on the reverse of each medal, replacement ribbons. Canadian Memorial Cross, George VI (G.T. BURKE / LDG S.A. / R.C.N.V.R.). Naming is mechanically engraved, marked "R" and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, suspended from sterling silver pinback hanger, contact marks. Fine. Accompanied by a Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Sweetheart Pin (in sterling silver, marked "STERLING" and maker marked "SMIBO" on the reverse, measuring 23.5 mm (w) x 29.5 mm (h), missing its pinback); two Reproduction Photographs (one is black and white, gloss finish, mounted to a blue card, measuring 76 mm (w) x 100 mm (h); the other is black and white, faded to a sepia-toned look, die-cut, measuring 78 mm (w) x 112 mm (h)); along with copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records and a Board of Inquiry Preliminary Investigation Report in Regards to his Death.
Footnote: Gerald Thomas Burke was born on September 16, 1922 in Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, the son of Gordon T. Burke and Mildred Sylvia Burke (later of Toronto, Ontario). He had completed Junior Matriculation in Toronto, when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve as a probable Victualling Assistant, on December 17, 1941, at the stone frigate (land naval establishment) HMCS York in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 19, stating that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Filler with the Imperial Varnish and Colour Company. Two days later, he was posted to the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montreal on December 19th. Twenty-five days later, he was transferred to the naval dockyard HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, Nova Scotia on January 13, 1942, then posted to the accommodation ship HMCS Avalon in St. John's, Newfoundland on January 16th. It was while he was at HMCS Avalon that he achieved the rank of Stores Assistant on March 18, 1942. However, he ran afoul of the authorities a year later, when he was found to be "drunk on shore in St. John's at 18:30" on March 30, 1943, his punishment deemed to be fourteen days #12 and one day #14, which was handed out on April 1st. Seven weeks after receiving his punishment for being drunk, Burke qualified as a Leading Stores Assistant on May 18, 1943 and was then confirmed in the rank on June 1st. He returned to HMCS Stadacona on October 15, 1943, followed by a transfer to the shore establishment HMCS Chaleur II in Quebec City, Quebec on October 11, 1944, and posted to the Flower-class corvette HMCS Lachute from October 27 to November 12, 1944. He returned to HMCS Stadacona on November 13th, followed by a transfer to HMCS Avalon in St. John's, Newfoundland on December 31, 1944, where he was posted to the Flower-class corvette HMCS Rosthern from February 15 to August 6, 1944, then posted to the depot ship HMCS Peregrine from June 7 to 11, 1945. Leading Stores Assistant Burke would see his final posting, this time to the River-class frigate HMCS Capilano on June 12, 1945, as the ship had begun a refit at Shelburne on June 10th. HMCS Capilano had been commissioned at Victoria, British Columbia, on August 25, 1944, named in honour of the town of North Vancouver, British Columbia, because there was a ship named HMCS Vancouver in the Royal Canadian Navy. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 20. Following workups begun in St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia, and completed in Bermuda in November, she joined Escort Group C-2 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and was continuously on North Atlantic convoy duty until Victory in Europe-Day. She left Londonderry, Northern Ireland, for the last time on May 30, 1945, and on June 10th, began her tropicalization refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, for possible deployment to the Pacific Ocean. V/27831 Leading Stores Assistant Gerald Thomas Burke, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve was killed on September 8, 1945, at the age of 22, dying as the result of an accidental fall from the stern of the HMCS Capilano while it was in dry dock. He was buried in the Family Plot in Bath United Church Cemetery, Bath, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario and is commemorated on page 500 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Two days after his death, a Preliminary Investigation was conducted on board HMCS Capilano at Shelburne on September 10, 1945, to determine the cause and circumstance surrounding his demise. Leading Stores Assistant Burke had been on a short leave in Shelburne and had returned to the ship in darkness. It was noticed by the Ordinary Seaman, who was performing Quartermaster duties that night, that Burke was "not sober". The correct duty of a Quartermaster was to report an intoxicated man coming aboard the ship to the Petty Officer, but this was ignored, due to lack of proper instruction. Burke's body was discovered by one of the seaman who had just returned to the ship, just before midnight. The seaman had been walking along the upper deck, then on the catwalk when he "noticed this white object lying on the slip" (dock). Many went to Burke's aid: he was found lying face down, with multiple abrasions of the face, arms and head. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered compound comminuted fracture of the mandible (jaw), along with a contra-coup laceration of the brain. The report stated that Burke "met his death as a result of a severe blow on the point of the jaw, which produced hemorrhage into the brain. Such a blow could have been caused by falling from the deck and striking the bottom of the slip with the neck fully extended, or by striking one of the props or supports on his way down". Commanding Officer Lieutenant William Robert Waugh, HMCS Capilano, wrote a letter of condolence to Burke's mother, Mildred Burke, dated September 12, 1945. In it he stated that "Death, which was, mercifully instantaneous, was caused by a fall from the stern of the ship to the dock below, a distance of about twenty-six feet". He went on to explain that "In the short time your son had been aboard he had carried out his duties in a cheerful and efficient manner and had already become highly regarded by his shipmates" and that "It seems especially tragic that your son, after serving through most of the recent war, should lose his life at a time when he was looking forward to a speedy return to his home and his normal environs". For his Second World War service, he was posthumously awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp, the War Medal 1939-1945, along with the Defence Medal, the latter of which is not included with this group. His mother, Mildred Burke of Toronto, received his Memorial Cross. A Last Will and Testament dated December 17, 1941 was executed.