The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX69937) Lance Corporal William Stanley Edward Burke, 2/3rd Battalion, 2nd AIF, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (NX69937) Lance Corporal William Stanley Edward Burke, 2/3rd Battalion, 2nd AIF, Second World War.

NX69937 Lance Corporal William Stanley Edward Burke, 2/3rd Battalion, 2nd AIF
KIA 27 November 1942
No photograph in collection

Today we pay tribute to Lance Corporal William Stanley Edward Burke, who was killed on active service during the Second World War.

Born in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield on 17 June 1918, William Stanley Edward Burke was one of five sons and two daughters born to John Burke and Clara Burke of Carramar. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War William Burke had worked as a press hand.

Known to his family as “Dude”, Burke came from a strong tradition of military service, and he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 12 March 1941. His brother Merv also served, as did nine cousins.

Burke commenced training and in June 1941 he embarked in Sydney for overseas service, arriving in the Middle East in July. After further training in Palestine, Burke was posted to the 2/3rd Battalion, which was part of the 6th Division’s 16th Brigade.

At the time Burke joined the 2/3rd Battalion it was stationed in Syria, having fought campaigns in the Western Desert in Libya, and in Greece and Syria.

Following Japan’s entry into the war in December 1941 the 6th Division returned from the Middle East to face the growing Japanese threat in south-east Asia. The 2/3rd Battalion set sail in March 1942, but spent several months on Ceylon as part of the island’s garrison force. During his time there Burke was called to special duties, and also spent a brief period in hospital with illness.

The battalion reached Australia in August, but before long was on the move once more, embarking for New Guinea. Between September and December 1942 the 2/3rd fought against the Japanese along the Kokoda Trail during the advance to the Japanese beachheads. It fought major engagements at Eora Creek, at Oivi – where Burke was promoted to lance corporal – and on the Sanananda Track.

It was while fighting at this last location that Burke was killed in action. He was 24 years old.

He was buried at Somuta War Cemetery but was later reinterred at the British and Commonwealth War Cemetery at Bomana, Port Moresby.

William Burke’s name is listed here on the Roll of Honour on my left, among some 40,000 other Australians who died while serving in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lance Corporal William Stanley Edward Burke, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section