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Wow! You have both been so busy
This is fabulous
We have all his army records from Australia but nothing is consistent
Birthplace is not the same as his marriage and death certificates
His age is 10 years different
A big mystery man
But...he does have lots of tattoos including the US flag
(according to army records)
Fascinating!
And yes..there was family "talk" of a brother Gary
which is consistent with the SA family history
Also a family story that WJB "ran away to sea"
Thankyou both!
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There are several short references to Elizabeth Mealy's death in 1942. This one was of interest and confirms the Mealy/ Burk connection:
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) 22 Jan 1942
MEALY.—At Port Augusta, Elizabeth Mealy, dearly beloved mother of Myrtle Considine, Woodville, grandmother of Amy, Fred, Darwin.
This appears to be Myrtle's birth-
Name: Myrtle Burk
Birth Date: 29 Apr 1896
Father's name: Charles John Burk
Mother's name: Elizabeth Arbery
Birth Place: Port Augusta
Registration Place: Frome, South Australia
Page Number: 222 Volume Number: 583
Although her father is listed as Charles John (and not John Charles), I would assume they are the same parents as listed on William John's birth.
There are several siblings born to the same couple but I cannot find a G Burk- but this is a possible older sibling (known as Garry):
Name: Ward Albert Burk
Birth Date: 04 Mar 1884
Father's name: Charles Burk
Mother's name: Elizabeth Arbery
Birth Place: Cross Roads
Registration Place: Daly, South Australia
Page Number: 484 Volume Number: 321
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WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: Ward Albert Burk
Birth Place: Moonta, South Australia
Dossier Year Range: 1914-1920
Enlistment Place: Adelaide, South Australia
Service number: 7112
Next of Kin: Elizabeth Burk of Cotter Street, Port Augusta
Relationship to Soldier: Mother
----------------------------------------------------
Then this death notice is listed on someones tree on Ancestry:
DEATH NOTICE: 1957
DEATHS: 2.5.1957
BURK ON APRIL 30TH AT REPATRIATION HOSPITAL SPRINGBANK. WARD ALBERT (GARRY) DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE LATE CATHERINE BURK AND LOVING BROTHER OF CLARENCE, ARTHUR, ETHEL (MRS ELLIOTT) MYRTLE (MRS CONSIDINE) AND EILEEN (MRS SHERIDAN). SGED 74 YRS. REST IN PEACE, LEST WE FORGET.
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Ok- I'm seeing why some of the info may have been confused:
The Express and Telegraph 10th June 1914
BURK—EDWARDS.—On the 8th June, at Si Bartbolomew's Church, Norwood, , by Canon Andrews, William John, second son of the late John Charles Burk, of Boston, U.S. America to Gertrude Y. Edwards, late of Wolverhampton, Staffs, England.
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So according to this Gertrude was from Staffordshire UK (She travelled to Australia in 1912), and it was William's FATHER that was from Boston.
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1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
102 Cannock Road Heath Town, Heath Town, Staffordshire, England
Edward Samuel Edwards Head Married Male Insurance Agent 31 1880 Staffs Wall Heath
Ethel May Edwards Wife Married Female - 31 1880 Staffs Heath Town
Gertrude York Edwards Sister Single Female Shop Assistant Fancy Drapery 25 1886 Staffs Wall Heath
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And this would be the second marriage of William's Mum:
South Australia Marriages 1842-1937 Transcription
name(s) Elizabeth Burk
Marital status Widow/Widower
Age 52
Birth year 1866
Marriage date 28 Aug 1918
Place Res of John Hocking Port Augusta
District Frome
State South Australia
Country Australia
Father's name(s) Joseph Arbery
Spouse's name(s) Peter Mealy
Spouse's marital status Single/Spinster
Spouse's age 49
Spouse's birth year 1869
Spouse's father's name(s) Peter Mealy
Registration number 276/429
Notes Additional information is on the certificate but not recorded in this index
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This is so great thankyou
And would you believe I am up in Quorn this week for work!
Coincidence or meant to be?
I will try local history
And today I will try to find G Burk online
There was talk of an uncle Gary once.
You are both legends!
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Garry was actually Ward Albert Burt born 1884
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Have just returned from Port Augusta and found tons of info in the library - WJB was one of 9 children!
Struggling to find father of WJB but the USA link may be true
Or another furphy!
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