PERSONALIA
 
Name:  Burke, Cornelius
Date of birth: September 2nd, 1916 (Vancouver/British Columbia, Canada)
Date of death:  April 25th, 1999 (Vancouver/British Columbia, Canada)
Nationality:  Canadian
BIOGRAPHY: 
Cornelius Burke was drafted in September, was trained at HMCS Discovey and took officers training in England at HMS King Alfred.
May 1940 he sailed to Le Havre with explosives experts to demolish docks and harbor facilities prior to the arrival of the Germans. For the rest of the war, he served on Motor Gun Boats in the Meditterranean.
Following his demobilisation in 1946 he ran a travel agency in Vancouver.
     
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS (DSC)
Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (Temporary)(Vancouver)
Awarded on: May 30th, 1944
Action: Citation:
"For outstanding courage, leadership and skill in Light Coastal Craft in many daring attacks on enemy shipping in enemy waters."
 
     
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Awarded on: July 11th, 1944
Action: Citation:
"For outstanding, leadership, courage and skill in Light Coastal Craft in a successful engagement with the enemy in the Adriatic."
 
     
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS (DSC)
Rank: Temporary Lieutenant
Unit: Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (Vaucouver, B.C.)
Awarded on: January 23rd, 1945
Details: Second DSC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DSC.
 
     
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS (DSC)
Rank: Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander
Unit: Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (Vancouver)
Awarded on: April 24th, 1945
Action: Citation:
"For courage, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M. Ships Fabius, Brocklesby, Wilton, Quantock, Lamerton and Light Coast Forces in an attack on the Island of Lussino"
Details: Third DSC awarded as second bar for on the ribbon of the first DSC.
 
     
1939-1945 STAR
 
     
ATLANTIC STAR
 
     
AFRICA STAR
 
     
ITALY STAR
 
     
DEFENCE MEDAL 1939-1945
 
     
CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL
Details: With Clasp.
 
     
WAR MEDAL 1939-1945
 
 
 
  Provide alterations or additional information
Information source(s):   - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36537 published on the 26 May 1944
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36602 published on the 7 July 1944
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36903 published on the 19 January 1945
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37048 published on the 20 April 1945
- Awards to the Royal Canadian Navy
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