Boldly signed J. W. Burke, this cabinet photograph  depicts Staff/Garrison Sergeant Major John William "Jack" Burke . Burke inscribed a dedication to his sister on the card's reverse side that reads: "To my dearest sister Annie, from her fond brother Jack, as a remembrance of his commissioning the 29th year of his army service. 12 August 1889".  We can infer Burke's original attestation date as sometime around 1869.

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Born on 12 August 1854 in Chatham, Kent, John William "Jack" Burke attested with the 3rd Battalion, 60th Rifles as No. 3077 on 13 August 1870 at Aldershot.  16 years old at the time. his rank was listed as "Lad". He was promoted private after his seventeenth birthday in August 1871.

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Corporal - 5 June 1873

Sergeant - 6 March 1875

Colour Sergeant - 28 February 1877

Quarter Master Sergeant - 1 July 1881

Garrison Sergeant Major - 22 June 1885

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Burke was not yet 21 years old when promoted sergeant.  

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Burke took part in the second phase of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and took an active part in the Battle of Gingindlovu and the subsequent relief of the garrison of the besieged mission station at Eshowe. Burke was invalided home in late 1879. In the above photograph Burke wears the 1877-79 South Africa Medal with the "1879" clasp for his service in Zululand.

 

Burke did not rejoin his old battalion (now the 3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps), but transferred to the Army Staff Corps on 22 August 1880.  He was posted to Barbados on 16 March 1882 and continued there until 2 September 1896. After returning home he would retire on 27 February 1897 after 26 years, 200 days with the colours.

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On 27 July 1901 Burke rejoined the Army Staff at his former rank and would serve until 31 December 1902.

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John William "Jack" Burke married Mary Anne Commerford at Farnborough, Hampshire, England on 20 May 1877. The couple would have at least seven children.

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​​Cabinet Photograph

W. G. Cooper - Photographer

Barbados

12 August 1889