| Name |
Albert Joseph Burke |
| Born |
9 Jul 1911 |
Cape Bald, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Military |
with the Cape Breton Highlanders Regiment in WWII [2, 3] |
- Excerpt from newspaper article by Kenneth Kidd::
...
As it did for tens of thousands of young men like Albert, World War II offered a kind of relief. Albert enlisted with the Cape Breton Highlanders — Gaelic motto: Siol Na Fear Fearail (Breed of manly men).
He’d spend more than two years fighting in Italy, most often as one of the guys moving artillery closer to the enemy in the dead of night, ahead of the next day’s infantry assault. Twice his truck was blown up by enemy fire.
Not that there was much glory in any of this, since a cruel twist of history ended up dubbing those who’d fought in Italy — long before the Allied invasion of France — the “D-Day Dodgers.”
The Cape Bretoners were eventually shipped to Holland, which Albert mostly regards now as a kind of sad, pointless denouement, lives needlessly shed until the bitter end. His regiment’s last battle was taking the Dutch port of Delfzijl, with 19 killed, 54 wounded and 1,700 enemy prisoners captured. A week later, the war was over.
“I wasn’t smart, I wasn’t brave,” Albert says of his soldiering days. “I was just lucky.”
...
|
| Occupation |
From 1971 to 1990 |
Digby, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada [2] |
| owner and operator of AJ's Galley |
| Obituary |
Jan 2013 [2] |
Obituary
Albert Joseph Burke, age 101 of Beaver River, Digby Co. and formerly of Digby, passed away January 5, 2013 in the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth. Born in Cape Bauld, New Brunswick, Albert was a son of the late Michael and Dena Burke. He was a Veteran of the Second World War having served with the Cape Breton Highlanders Regiment. He was owner and operator of AJ’sGalley in Digby from 1971-1990. He was a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 20, Digby. He enjoyed bowling and spending time with his family and friends. He lived life to the fullest. Surviving are daughter Cindy James, Halifax; sons Richard (Joanne), Beaver River, Digby Co.; Albert Jr. (AJ), Vancouver, BC; 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Nayda, son Larry, brothers Emile, Alfie, sisters Primillia, Leah, Tilda, Evon, and Jenny. No visitation by request. Funeral service held Saturday, January 12, 2013, from Jayne’s Funeral Home, 7 Birch St. Digby. A reception followed at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 20, Digby. Donations in memory can be made to the Nova Scotia Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch # 20 Digby.
|
| Occupation |
manager of a bowling alley [3] |
| Occupation |
1930's [3] |
| rider of the rails to western Canada during the Depression years and back again with only odd jobs found along the way |
| Occupation |
salesman [3] |
| Residence |
Beaver River, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada [2] |
| Residence |
, going back and forth between Ontario and the Maritimes over the years [3] |
| Residence |
Digby, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada [2] |
| formerly |
| Died |
5 Jan 2013 |
Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada [2] |
| Person ID |
I18330 |
Annette - Research |
| Last Modified |
12 Feb 2017 |
| Father |
Maximin\Michael\Marc Burke, b. 1 Dec 1874, Cap Pele, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada , d. 11 Sep 1961, New Waterford,, Nova Scotia, Canada (Age 86 years) |
| Mother |
Marie Dina (Dena) Burke, b. 22 Jul 1880, Cape Bauld, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada , d. 1 Mar 1921, River Hebert, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada (Age 40 years) |
| Family ID |
F3785 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
1911 - 2013 (101 years)
