Private Stephen Burke 1st Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment
Saturday 30th May 1903 saw 19 year old Stephen Burke a young cotton mill worker embark on an adventure from Swinton Railway Station with companions from the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. His body returned home a week later. Private Burke died on 4th June 1903 and was interred in Swinton Cemetery on 8th June.
Born in 1883 and raised at 13 Birkdale Grove an area off Swinton Hall Road, the youngest son of Irish immigrants William and Mary Burke who arrived in Swinton 1880.
In the mid 1890’s following the death of his father the family moved to 617 Bolton Road Pendlebury.
Born in 1883 and raised at 13 Birkdale Grove an area off Swinton Hall Road, the youngest son of Irish immigrants William and Mary Burke who arrived in Swinton 1880.
In the mid 1890’s following the death of his father the family moved to 617 Bolton Road Pendlebury.
Map showing the location of Birkdale Grove off Swinton Hall Road close to Wellington Road
Young men were encouraged to join local volunteer regiments. Swinton formed the 46th Corps of the Lancashire Rifle Volunteers originally raised in February 1860. Several Corps were raised during 1860 primarily due to newspaper propaganda emphasising the threat France continued to pose. As the French threat receded young men were still encouraged to Volunteer, not only to ensure an army could be called upon at short notice if required but to encourage good clean recreation activities for young men and equip them with strong morals and discipline . 383 Private Stephen Burke joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment in 1901.
The 1903 annual Whitsuntide training camp took place around Salisbury Plain. Chosen to coincide with local Wakes holiday weeks, it caused the least inconvenience and disruption of workers. The volunteers from Swinton and Pendlebury were accompanied to Swinton Railway Station by proud family and friends as they left to join the mass exodus to camp from Manchester Central Station. Ten special trains conveyed the Manchester Volunteer 1st, 2nd,4th and 5th battalions to various locations on Salisbury Plain, it was the third consecutive year the Manchesters had travelled to Tidworth. Over five thousand battalion volunteers were encamped under canvas around the Wiltshire village.
The 1903 annual Whitsuntide training camp took place around Salisbury Plain. Chosen to coincide with local Wakes holiday weeks, it caused the least inconvenience and disruption of workers. The volunteers from Swinton and Pendlebury were accompanied to Swinton Railway Station by proud family and friends as they left to join the mass exodus to camp from Manchester Central Station. Ten special trains conveyed the Manchester Volunteer 1st, 2nd,4th and 5th battalions to various locations on Salisbury Plain, it was the third consecutive year the Manchesters had travelled to Tidworth. Over five thousand battalion volunteers were encamped under canvas around the Wiltshire village.
1st Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment cap badge
All the men were medically examined before leaving home assessing their general fitness and confirming they were free from contagious diseases, a similar fitness check was made on alternate days during their stay under canvas. The main reason of this unusual watchfulness was fear of smallpox, the precautions proved invaluable, two men within a day of arrival were confirmed to have smallpox, the infected were immediately removed to an isolation area of the camp field hospital.
On Tuesday 2nd June 1903 Stephen Burke spent the day with his battalion taking part in practical military exercises in particular that day formation of an advanced guard and front line attack, this was followed by a general parade and inspection. Finally the activities concluded with a mixture of drill practice and pitching and equipping of a field hospital that was capable of accommodation up 100 sick people. Ironically it was an active field hospital where Burke found himself the next day under the care of Surgeon Major Roocroft.
On Tuesday 2nd June 1903 Stephen Burke spent the day with his battalion taking part in practical military exercises in particular that day formation of an advanced guard and front line attack, this was followed by a general parade and inspection. Finally the activities concluded with a mixture of drill practice and pitching and equipping of a field hospital that was capable of accommodation up 100 sick people. Ironically it was an active field hospital where Burke found himself the next day under the care of Surgeon Major Roocroft.
Tidworth Camp
Tidworth Camp drill exercise
Having felt somewhat unwell he was sent along to see the camp doctor who immediately admitted him to the camp field hospital. His death from Peritonitis/Ruptured Appendix took place in the field hospital of Tidworth Park on the morning of the 4th June 1903. A telegram was immediately sent to his mother.
It was the wish of Burkes widowed mother that her son be buried in his home town. His body was conveyed to Tidworth Railway Station by gun carriage , the coffin covered with the Union Jack and a wreath from officers laid on top. Several thousand volunteers lined the road whilst many of Private Burkes friends and companions who had travelled with him from Swinton followed behind the coffin, the majority were required to returned to camp once the train had departed. The battalion band accompanied the procession playing the Dead March.
It was the wish of Burkes widowed mother that her son be buried in his home town. His body was conveyed to Tidworth Railway Station by gun carriage , the coffin covered with the Union Jack and a wreath from officers laid on top. Several thousand volunteers lined the road whilst many of Private Burkes friends and companions who had travelled with him from Swinton followed behind the coffin, the majority were required to returned to camp once the train had departed. The battalion band accompanied the procession playing the Dead March.
Tidworth Railway Station close to the army camp
To follow up the formal telegram notification a letter from Private Burkes commanding officer was sent with his body giving further details surrounding his death. The day before the funeral Margaret Burke replied to the letter;
7th June 1903
“Dear Sir,
It is in great sorrow that I acknowledge your letter, but it is very comforting to me to know that my boy had every attendance by yourself and the doctor. I also wish to thank the officers and men of the battalion for their sympathy. I know it has been a blow in the regiment, but it is God’s will that my son should be taken from me so young, but I cannot say any more at present my trouble is so great. So I conclude, once more thanking you one and all.“
M. Burke
“Dear Sir,
It is in great sorrow that I acknowledge your letter, but it is very comforting to me to know that my boy had every attendance by yourself and the doctor. I also wish to thank the officers and men of the battalion for their sympathy. I know it has been a blow in the regiment, but it is God’s will that my son should be taken from me so young, but I cannot say any more at present my trouble is so great. So I conclude, once more thanking you one and all.“
M. Burke
On the morning of 8th June 1903 Bolton Road and Station Road were lined with people paying their respects to the funeral cortege, hundreds of people assembled in Swinton Cemetery, several wreathes were laid, three Battalion volunteers attended and fired three shots over the grave. The expense of the internment and repatriation from Salisbury Plain was borne by the 1st Battalion.
All research © Susan Tydd
Please do not reproduce without permission
Please do not reproduce without permission